Govt decides relaxed security norms for News channels

New Delhi

News channels and other media ventures will get 10-year security clearance instead of three years now as the Home Ministry has decided to put in place a relaxed security regime, following Narendra Modi government’s pledge to ensure “ease of doing business”.

The Home Ministry has conveyed to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry that security clearance of any media venture will be applicable for 10 years and if the permission is given to one channel, no more security clearance will be required for the second channel or a newspaper or the subsequent ventures of the same group.

The new liberal security clearance process for the media outlets will be applicable to other industries with some modifications in the coming months.

“A similar relaxed security clearance process will soon be unveiled for other industries soon as part of the new government’s special initiative,” a Home Ministry official said.

There are around 750 news channels currently in the country.

The issue of security clearance to TV channels arose last year after the I&B ministry had asked the Home Ministry whether the security clearance given to broadcasting companies came with an expiry date. The Home Ministry wrote back saying that the validity of the security clearance was only for three years.

This led to the News Broadcasters’ Association (NBA) making a representation to the I&B Ministry seeking a reconsideration of the proposal. Broadcasters had described the step as “retrograde” and feared that it would adversely impact business.

The new decision will benefit those companies which want to launch fresh media venture.

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