Latest news with #UnionInformationandBroadcastingMinistry
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
I&B Ministry proposes amendments to rules for TV rating agencies
The Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry has proposed amendments to the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies, originally issued in 2014. Also Read | TV rating agency BARC suspends ratings for news channels The proposed draft, released on Wednesday (July 2, 2025), removes some restrictive provisions for media houses to allow more players besides the current Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to democratise and modernise the television audience measurement ecosystem. Observing that the existing system for measuring viewership, Television Rating Points (TRP), did not fully capture the evolving patterns owing to content availability on various platforms including smart TVs, mobile applications, and other online streaming platforms, the Ministry said the gap could affect the accuracy of ratings, which in turn might influence revenue planning for broadcasters and advertising strategies for brands. The Ministry has invited feedback from stakeholders and the general public within 30 days of the issuance of the draft. Also Read: Explained | Has the process to measure TRPs improved? 'The proposed reforms aim to enable fair competition, generate more accurate and representative data, and ensure that the TRP system reflects the diverse and evolving media consumption habits of viewers across the country. India currently has about 230 million television households. However, only about 58,000 people meters are presently used to capture viewership data, representing just 0.025% of the total TV homes. This relatively limited sample size may not adequately represent the diverse viewing preferences across regions and demographics,' it noted. The Ministry said the cross-holding restrictions prevented broadcasters or advertisers from investing in rating agencies. In order to fix the problems, the Ministry has proposed certain modifications that are aimed at fostering healthy competition, bringing in new technologies, and providing more reliable and representative data especially for connected TV platforms. 'The amendments will also enable more investments from broadcasters, advertisers, and other stakeholders to improve rating technology and infrastructure. With these reforms, India aims to build a more transparent, inclusive, and technology-driven TV rating ecosystem,' it added.
The Hindu
30-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
WaveX invites startups to develop AI-powered real-time multilingual translation solution
The Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry has launched the WAVEX Startup Challenge 2025, inviting startups across the country to participate in a national hackathon to develop an AI-powered multilingual translation solution to be named 'BhashaSetu'. 'The challenge aims to encourage the development of innovative artificial intelligence tools capable of real-time translation, transliteration, and voice localisation across at least 12 major Indian languages. The initiative seeks to foster inclusive, accessible, and emotion-aware communication technologies,' said the Ministry on Monday. The challenge has no minimum eligibility criteria, allowing startups at any stage of development to apply. 'Startups are encouraged to build scalable and cost-effective solutions using open-source or low-cost AI models. However, proprietary solutions may also be proposed, provided they remain affordable and practical for wide-scale deployment,' it said. The winner will be provided incubation support under the WaveX Accelerator, including mentorship, workspace, and development assistance until the final product is completed and deployed. The registrations for the challenge will be open from June 30 to July 22.
News18
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Javed Akhtar Has These Strong Words For Pakistani Artistes In India After Pahalgam Attack
Last Updated: Following a terror attack in Pahalgam, FWICE has called for ban on Pakistani artists in India. Javed Akhtar supports the ban, citing one-way traffic in cross-border collaborations. Following the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22 that resulted in the loss of 26 civilian lives, Ashoke Dubey, General Secretary of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), has called for a complete ban on Pakistani artists working in India. Hence, a movie titled Abir Gulal, featuring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, will not be allowed to release in India. When asked for his opinion on the matter, lyricist and scriptwriter Javed Akhtar stated that while there are two important sides to the issue, Pakistani artists should not be allowed to work in India, at least for the time being. Akhtar, the co-writer of iconic films like Deewaar and Sholay, pointed out that there has been 'one-way traffic" when it comes to cross-border collaborations, with no invitation extended to Indian legends to perform in Pakistan. He even gave the example of Lata Mangeshkar never been invited to perform there. 'There are two answers, and both of them are equally logical. You can toss a coin to find the right one. It has been one-way traffic – Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Ghulam Ali and Noor Jahan came to India, we gave them a great reception. Faiz Ahmad Faiz, who was a poet of subcontinent – he was living in Pakistan because he was born there, but I wouldn't say he is a Pakistani poet, he was a poet of peace and love – when he came to India during the AB Vajpayee regime, he was treated like a state head," Javed Akhtar said. However, the lyricist pointed out that this gesture has never been reciprocated by Pakistan. 'I have no complaint against the people of Pakistan. Big poets of Pakistan have written poems on Lata Mangeshkar. She was, hands down, the most popular Indian artiste in Pakistan in the 60s and 70s, but why was there not a single performance by Lata Mangeshkar in the country? There was some blockage, which was the system, the Pakistani establishment, which I don't understand. This is one-way traffic, which is not right," he asserted. Mr. Akhtar also pointed out, however, that by blocking Pakistani artistes from working in India, India would be playing into the hands of the neighbouring country's army and fundamentalists. 'The second, equally valid, point of view is that if we block Pakistani artistes in India, who are we pleasing in Pakistan? The army and the fundamentalists. This is what they want – a tall wall between India and Pakistan so Pakistanis cannot see the kind of freedom and privileges every citizen of India enjoys. They want distance, it suits them. Bonhomie doesn't," he said. 'Both these questions are equally valid. But, at this moment, I would say no (to Pakistanis working in India)," he added. Sources from the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry revealed last week that the Bollywood film Abir Gulaal, starring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, will not be allowed to release in India. This decision comes after strong opposition from various groups, including Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, who had protested the film's release, initially scheduled for May 9. Many cinema halls also announced they would not screen the movie. Additionally, two songs from the film that had been released earlier have since been taken down from YouTube. First Published:
NDTV
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
"One-Way Traffic...": Javed Akhtar On Pak Artistes In India After J&K Attack
The lyricist-scriptwriter also pointed to a lack of reciprocation by Pakistan. Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. 26 people were killed in the Pahalgam terror attack last week. Mr Akhtar said there are two sides, both "equally logical". He said fundamentalists in Pakistan want a "tall wall". New Delhi: After last week's horrific terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, in which 25 tourists and a Kashmiri ponywallah were killed, a movie featuring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan will not be allowed to release in India, and there have been debates about whether this was the right move. Asked to weigh in on this, lyricist-scriptwriter Javed Akhtar has said there are two very important sides to the issue, but artistes from Pakistan should not be allowed to work in India at least for the time being. Answering a question on Tuesday, Mr Akhtar, who co-wrote cult movies like 'Deewaar' and 'Sholay' , said there has been "one-way traffic" and legends from India have not been invited to perform in Pakistan. "There are two answers, and both of them are equally logical. You can toss a coin to find the right one. It has been one-way traffic - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Ghulam Ali and Noor Jahan came to India, we gave them a great reception. Faiz Ahmad Faiz, who was a poet of subcontinent - he was living in Pakistan because he was born there, but I wouldn't say he is a Pakistani poet, he was a poet of peace and love - when he came to India during the AB Vajpayee regime, he was treated like a state head," Mr Akhtar said. The lyricist pointed out, however, that this has never been reciprocated by Pakistan. "I have no complaint against the people of Pakistan. Big poets of Pakistan have written poems on Lata Mangeshkar. She was, hands down, the most popular Indian artiste in Pakistan in the 60s and 70s, but why was there not a single performance by Lata Mangeshkar in the country? There was some blockage, which was the system, the Pakistani establishment, which I don't understand. This is one-way traffic, which is not right," he asserted. Mr Akhtar also pointed out, however, that blocking Pakistani artistes from working in India is giving the neighbouring country's army and fundamentalists what they want. "The second, equally valid, point of view is that if we block Pakistani artistes in India, who are we pleasing in Pakistan? The army and the fundamentalists. This is what they want - a tall wall between India and Pakistan so Pakistanis cannot see the kind of freedom and privileges every citizen of India enjoys. They want distance, it suits them. Bonhomie doesn't," he said. "Both these questions are equally valid. But, at this moment, I would say no (to Pakistanis working in India)," he added. Movie Release Sources in the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry had said last week that the Bollywood film 'Abir Gulaal' featuring Pakistani Actor Fawad Khan, will not be allowed to release in India. Several people and groups, including Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, had opposed the movie's release - scheduled for May 9 - and many cinema halls had also said they would not screen it. Two songs from the film, which had been released earlier, have also been taken down from YouTube.
Hindustan Times
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
'Support Phule the film' trends on X amid censorship woes: Pratik Gandhi, Patralekhaa-starrer's early X reviews
The early X reviews for the Pratik Gandhi and Patralekha-led Phule are trickling in and it appears so, that even some pressing censorship woes couldn't stop the film from making the impact it set out to make. Based on the lives of 19th century anti-caste activist Jyotirao Phule and his women's education activist wife, Savitribai Phule, the film traverses the innumerable battles they fought to have their vision see some light of day. Earlier this week, director Anant Mahadevan was asked to do away with mentions of the Mang and Mahar groups with the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry body also asking for a removal of any reference to Manu, who pioneered the Manusmriti, in addition to mentions of the Peshwa rule in Maharashtra. Another bone of contention was the line "3,000 saal puraani gulaami" which was eventually changed to "kai saal puraani ghulaami". Incidentally, 'Ghulami' happens to be the title of Phule's 1973 book. With the mentioned cuts, Phule released in theatres today and has been garnering rave early reviews on X. The general audience reception as of now, stands captured by these impassioned takes on the film: "Some heroes fight with swords, others with schools. Phule's weapon was education. Every Indian must watch this story", "The more you learn about Jyotiba and Savitribai, the more you'll understand how revolutionary they truly were. #SupportPhuleTheFilm", "Everyone should come together and SUPPORT PHULE FILM it's a must watch for everyone", "Art has the power to heal, educate, and awaken. That's why films like this matter. That's why we must support it", "Jyotiba & Savitribai Phule's legacy deserves to shine on the big screen! A film on their life isn't just cinema—it's a revolution retold" and "Heroes like Phule don't just need statues – they need screen time" to quote a few. A post shared by 🌸 Patralekhaa 🌸 (@patralekhaa) Phule, starring Scam 1992 fame Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa as Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule respectively, is currently running in theatres.
