The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued an advisory for OTT platforms, cautioning them against streaming content that inadvertently promotes or glorifies the use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.   In an official release, the Ministry urged all platforms to be ‘mindful of their social responsibility’ in shaping public opinion and behaviour through their content.   MIB underscores the provisions of Part-III of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, notified under the Information Technology Act, 2000, which states that publishers are not to transmit, publish, or exhibit any content that is prohibited under any law for the time being in force or has been prohibited by any court.   The platforms are advised to exercise due diligence in content, adhere to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), 1985, educate viewers on the dangers of drug abuse and use disclaimers and warn

Moneycontrol's second edition of the India Fintech Conclave took place on December 18, 2024, in Mumbai. The conclave centred around the theme ‘Innovate: Transform: Regulate’, provided a platform that brought together policymakers, regulators, bankers, fintech founders and some influential leaders of the fintech ecosystem.   The conclave witnessed the presence of various industry experts, including Ananth Narayan, a whole-time member of SEBI; K V Kamath, an independent director and non-executive chairman of Jio Financial Services; Kunal Shah, founder of CRED; Prithvi Chandrasekhar, CEO of InCred Finance, Shri Ashishkumar Chauhan, CEO of National Stock Exchange of India, Shripal Shah, MD and CEO of Kotak Securities, Ujjwal Jain, CEO of Share.Market, Sandeep Bhardwaj, chief operating and digital officer of HDFC Securities and more.   Ananth Narayan, a whole-time member of SEBI, asserted that the F&O regulation aims to curb overtrading on expiry days. Speaking at Moneycontro

In a deadly mishap that demands full accountability from the Indian Navy, at least 13 people, including four women and two children, died on Wednesday when a Navy speedboat “lost control” during “engine trials” and crashed into a private ferry heading from Gateway of India to Elephanta Island, a popular tourist destination off the Mumbai coast, with over 110 passengers on board.  According to the Navy,  99 people have been rescued so far including one of its personnel and two from the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer), who were on board the speedboat, reported Nayonika Bose and Sagar Rajput for The Indian Express. Over 110 passengers, including five crew members, were on board the ferry, Neelkamal, when the incident took place around 4 pm. The ferry departed Gateway of India around 3.15 pm and capsized near Uran in Karanja after being hit by the Navy craft. The speedboat which collided with the ferry was described as a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) carrying six peopl

Nine has appointed new TV news directors for Queensland and Western Australia, according to Mumbrella.  Brendan Hockings, who has been the acting director since November, will oversee 9News operations in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and Darwin. Michael Genovese, who has worked at Nine in various roles including WAtoday and 6PR, will lead the Perth newsroom after serving as acting director for three months. Fiona Dear, Nine's director of TV news and current affairs, praised the depth of talent within 9News and highlighted the strong leadership and editorial guidance Hockings and Genovese have provided. Both directors also expressed their commitment to delivering high-quality news. Hockings’ appointment follows the legal action filed by former Queensland news director Amanda Paterson, who was terminated in November over alleged workplace breaches. Meanwhile, Nine is still searching for a new Sydney TV news director following Simon Hobbs' departure last month.  

Beginning his career as a proofreader in the Tamil evening daily, Malai Malar, Selvaraj Arunachalam chose crime reporting as his niche after his childhood dream of becoming a police officer did not materialise. The policing world's loss has become journalism's gain as he continues to break story after story exposing corrupt officials, murky scandals, and mangled investigations for three decades now. 1) How did you get started in journalism? It was purely by accident. After completing my diploma in Mechanical Engineering at Tirunelveli, I worked as a design and development engineer at Plant Engineering Services at Vavin near Ambattur Industrial Estate. When I went home for a holiday, my parents insisted I attend an interview at Kayamozhi, the native village of Daily Thanthi owner B. Sivanthi Adityan, to get a job at his Sun Paper Mill in Cheranmahadevi, as it was close to my native place. I was surprised to see more than 500 people waiting outside holding files, certificates, and

Direct-to-Home (DTH) operator Dish TV India has partnered with UK-based C21 Media to unveil a trade event, Content India 2025.  According to The Economic Times, the three-day summit, scheduled for April 1-3, 2025, will showcase India’s capabilities in production, post-production, and content creation while fostering cross-border collaborations and innovation.  Manoj Dobhal, CEO and executive director of Dish TV India, emphasized the initiative's significance, stating, “The Indian entertainment industry is at a critical juncture, with its content resonating like never before across international audiences. Content India 2025 is our effort to empower Indian creators and bring global opportunities closer to home. By fostering innovation and collaboration, we aim to position India as a global content powerhouse and pave the way for sustainable growth in the industry.”  David Jenkinson, C21 Media editor-in-chief and MD, asserted, “India’s entertainment industry holds immens

The government’s ambitious One Nation, One Election (ONOE) bill has sparked intense debates in Parliament and across the political spectrum. Introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, the bill seeks to synchronise elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, allegedly to streamline the electoral process and cut costs. Why ONOE and Why Now? The ONOE bill reflects the government’s push to overhaul India’s electoral system, citing financial prudence, reduced policy paralysis, and efficient governance. As Hindustan Times’ Saubhadra Chatterji explained, the BJP argues that frequent elections disrupt administration and incur significant expenses. The introduction of this bill reaffirms the government’s intent to deliver on a long-standing proposal that has been central to its reform agenda. From the first elections in independent India in 1952 until 1967, polls were held simultaneously across the country. But since the Lok Sabha and state assemblies can be dissolved before t