Centre defends OTT regulation

The Centre has defended its stance on regulating obscene content on OTT platforms while underlining that the right to creative expression remains protected under the Constitution.

At the same time, it announced a major push to position India as a global hub for digital creativity through Rs 392.85 crore Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), modelled on the lines of IITs and IIMs.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw made this statement in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, stating that 43 OTT platforms had been blocked so far for carrying obscene content, under the provisions of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

The minister said the government remained committed to preserving creative freedom under Article 19 of the Constitution, but added that certain digital platforms had misused this freedom to stream vulgar or inappropriate content. “The government has put in place a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism which includes self-regulation by platforms, self-regulation by industry bodies and oversight by the government,” the reply said.

He said several complaints regarding OTT content had been received and processed, and blocking orders were issued in consultation with other ministries. Vaishnaw also used the opportunity to highlight the government’s efforts to grow animation, visual effects, gaming, comics and extended reality (AVGC-XR) sector. The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies, set up with an initial outlay of Rs 392.85 crore, is expected to offer cutting-edge skill training aligned with industry needs.

The MoUs have been signed with global tech giants such as Meta, Google, NVIDIA, Microsoft, Adobe, Apple and WPP for collaboration, mentorship and curriculum development.

The Centre’s push comes on the back of India’s expanding creative economy. Earlier this year, the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit 2025 (WAVES) held in Mumbai drew over one lakh entries for its “Create in India” challenge, covering 34 categories including animation, XR, music and video games. The summit also launched the WAVES Bazaar and WaveX Accelerator to connect Indian talent with global investors and studios.

On government advertising campaigns, the minister said the Central Bureau of Communication continued to handle media campaigns across newspapers, TV, radio, outdoor and digital platforms. Guidelines for such outreach are already available on the bureau’s website.