The Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology (Communications and IT Standing Committee) is proposing to consolidate the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), and Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under a single umbrella to enhance coordination in addressing technology convergence issues of communication and media technologies.
The recommendation to the MIB, which was presented in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, is a part of the 2025-26 Demands for Grants report and is expected to face resistance from the broadcasting industry.
The Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF) has previously emphasised Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) that broadcasting services differ from utility-based telecommunication services in their constitutional positioning. The standing committee has urged the MIB to introduce a comprehensive media bill to address broadcasting, cable TV, and over-the-top (OTT) platforms, especially since the MIB is planning to bring a new broadcast bill.
The committee also suggested the formation of a media council covering print, digital, and broadcasting for better coordination and law enforcement, with input from related ministries and organisations including MeitY. In addition, the Press Council of India has supported this proposal.
However, MIB has expressed concerns about the uniqueness of different media platforms, arguing that a single regulatory framework is not sufficient.
