India Strengthens OTT Oversight with Age-Based Rules
OTT Platforms to Remain Outside CBFC
Code of Ethics Shapes Responsible OTT Growth in India
New Delhi: As millions of viewers across India and the world tune into OTT platforms every day, the Government of India has emphasised that age-appropriate classification and adherence to a Code of Ethics must form the backbone of responsible digital content. In a statement delivered to the Lok Sabha today, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr L. Murugan clarified that while OTT content remains outside the jurisdiction of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), it is regulated under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, ensuring a structured, accountable framework.
The rules establish a three-tier oversight mechanism. Level I places responsibility on publishers for self-regulation, requiring age-based content classification and avoidance of prohibited material. Level II empowers self-regulatory bodies within the publishing community to monitor adherence, and Level III provides the Central Government oversight to ensure compliance and intervene when necessary. Grievances are forwarded to platforms under Level I, with strict timelines: 24 hours for privacy or nudity complaints, 72 hours for other unlawful content, and recourse to Grievance Appellate Committees if complaints are not resolved.
This framework addresses multiple concerns: it protects vulnerable audiences, provides clarity to content creators, and strengthens trust in India’s rapidly expanding OTT ecosystem, now reaching over 10–12 crore paid subscribers, with millions more accessing free or ad-supported content. By codifying ethical standards, the government aims to ensure that India’s digital content industry can grow responsibly while preserving creative freedom.
Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati has leveraged this ecosystem through its WAVES OTT platform, which recorded over 80 lakh downloads in its first year, bringing Doordarshan and All India Radio’s archives, regional arts, documentaries, classical music, literature-based programming, and multilingual content to a global audience. WAVES OTT also provides emerging filmmakers a distribution platform, reflecting India’s cultural diversity and contributing to soft power projection worldwide.
To further reinforce accountability, the government has empowered intermediaries under Section 7(1B)(ii) of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, read with Section 79(3) of the IT Act, 2000, to take action against platforms hosting pirated content. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, complements this framework by criminalising obscene acts, cyber offences, and other forms of unlawful content online.
Significant Social Media Intermediaries (SSMIs) — platforms with over 50 lakh users — now have mandatory obligations to appoint local officers, publish compliance reports, trace harmful content originators, and assist law enforcement. They must also provide transparency and due process in content removal. These measures reinforce the government’s objective of a safe, accountable, and trusted Internet, especially for women and children.
In tandem with regulation, Prasar Bharati is actively pursuing monetisation and global outreach through its draft Content Syndication Policy, 2025, designed to license, co-produce, or distribute archival, commissioned, and digital-first content. Flexible models, including flat fees, revenue sharing, and minimum guarantees, aim to expand cultural reach while generating sustainable revenue, ensuring public broadcasting remains accessible, culturally rich, and globally competitive.
By making age-appropriate classification and ethical adherence the central tenet of OTT regulation, India is establishing a responsible growth model for digital content, simultaneously protecting audiences, guiding creators, promoting cultural outreach, and reinforcing trust in one of the country’s fastest-growing industries. As the OTT sector continues to shape India’s storytelling, engage millions of viewers, and project soft power globally, the government’s regulatory framework ensures that creative innovation is balanced with accountability, safety, and cultural integrity.
– global bihari bureau
