MIB issues Gazette notification to include Sansad TV SD and Sansad TV HD as mandatory channels

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) on 15th September 2021 issued a Gazette notification to make amendments in section 8 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995. The Ministry issued the notification to replace serial numbers 23 and 24 and the entries relating thereto with Sansad TV SD and Sansad TV HD. Both the channels join the mandatory channels list at the expense of Lok Sabha TV and Rajya Sabha TV.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 8 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 (7 of 1995), the Central Government hereby makes the following further amendments in the notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, number S.O. 2693(E), dated the 5th September 2013, namely:— In the said notification, in Table-I, for serial numbers 23 and 24 and the entries relating thereto, the following serial numbers and entries shall be substituted,” said MIB in a Gazette notification.

As of 15th July 2021, the Ministry had notified 25 Doordarshan channels & Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha channels to be mandatorily carried by every Multi-System Operator and Cable Operator on their cable television networks. The non-carriage of mandatorily notified channels is liable for punitive action under various relevant sections of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.

The Ministry initially on 5th September 2013 notified 22 Doordarshan channels & Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha channels as mandatory channels. The list was later modified on 25th May 2015 to include DD Kisan as a mandatory channel followed by the inclusion of DD Arun Prabha and DD Yadagiri as mandatory channels on 7th May 2019 and 15th November 2019.

Mandatory Channels notified by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

1. DD National
2. DD News
3. DD Bharati
4. DD Urdu
5. DD Sports
6. DD India
7. DD Kashir
8. DD Puniabi
9. DD Girnar
10. DD Sahvadri
11. DD Saptagiri
12. DD Malayalam
13. DD Podhigai
14. DD Chandana
15. DD Bangla
16. DD North East
17. DD Bihar
18. DD Uttar Pradesh
19. DD Rajasthan
20. DD Madhya Pradesh
21. DD Oriya
22. Gyan Darshan
23. Sansad TV SD
24. Sansad TV HD
25. DD Kisan
26. DD Arunprabha
27. DD Yadagiri