In a bid to close a regulatory blind spot, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is negotiating with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on a statutory framework for OTT platforms, triggered by a surge of more than 1,000 public representations each month.
Presently, OTT services fall under Part III of the 2021 Intermediary Guidelines, which requires self‑classification into five age categories and a three‑tier grievance mechanism that starts with a platform‑appointed officer and escalates to a government committee.
The sharp rise in complaints—ranging from obscenity to vulgar language—has highlighted a gap, as theatrical releases are vetted by the CBFC under the 1952 Cinematograph Act, while digital streams enjoy looser oversight.
Officials say the ministry will consider amending either the Cinematograph Act or the Information Technology Act to give the government a clearer supervisory role, while still keeping self‑regulation at the forefront.
A representative from a consumer‑rights group in Delhi, who filed a complaint about a film’s graphic content, said the new rules could finally bring accountability to the rapidly expanding streaming market, and the government expects a decision by the end of 2026.