Govt proposes to bring internet calling, messaging apps under telecom licence
New Delhi (PTI): Over-the-top players like Whatsapp, Zoom and Google Duo which provide calling and messaging services may require licences to operate in the country, according to the draft telecommunication bill 2022.
The draft bill has included OTT as part of the telecommunication service.
"For provision of Telecommunication Services and Telecommunication Networks, an entity shall have to obtain a license," the draft bill released on Wednesday evening said.
The government in the bill has proposed a provision to waive fees and penalty of telecom and internet service providers.
The ministry has also proposed a provision for the refund of fees in case a telecom or internet provider surrenders his license.
"Seeking your views on the draft Indian Telecom Bill 2022," Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in a post on a social media platform in which he also shared the link of the draft bill.
The last date for public comment on the draft is October 20.
According to the draft, the central government may, "waive in part or full any fee, including entry fees, license fees, registrations fees or any other fees or charges, interest, additional charges or penalty" for any licence holder or registered entity under the telecom rules.
The bill proposes to exempt "press messages that are intended to be published in India" of correspondents accredited to the central or state government from interception.
However, the exemption will not be granted in case of any public emergency or in the interest of the public safety, sovereignty, integrity or security of India, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, or to prevent incitement to an offence, according to the draft.
In such cases any message or class of messages, to or from any person or class of persons, or relating to any particular subject, brought for transmission by, or transmitted or received by any telecommunication services or telecommunication network, shall not be transmitted, or shall be intercepted or detained or disclosed to the authorized officer, according to the draft bill.
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Rahul Gandhi's concern for Dalits self-serving: Mayawati
Lucknow(PTI): Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Saturday accused the Congress of long-standing neglect towards the Dalits and tribals.
In a post on X, Mayawati dismissed Rahul Gandhi's admission of Congress's failure in fulfilling the political, economic, and reservation-related aspirations of these people as "not new."
She called the leader's stance "self-serving politics" and his party adopting consistently "a sad and unfortunate attitude" towards the SC/ST communities.
The Dalit leader said that it was this very behaviour of the oldest part of the country that compelled these communities to form their own party.
"Consequently," Mayawati said, "the Congress party has continuously remained out of power in major states, including Uttar Pradesh. Now, after losing power, they are suddenly remembering these communities, which can only be described as crocodile tears given their perpetual deceitful intentions and policies."
She extended her criticism to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, accusing it also of hypocrisy.
The BSP chief said the Congress kept in abeyance the full benefits of reservation, failed to honour Dr B R Ambedkar with the Bharat Ratna for nearly 40 years after Independence.
Mayawati said that all "casteist parties" collude to effectively render SC, ST, and OBC reservations "inactive and ineffective" under various pretexts.
They are all "cut from the same cloth," she said.
She claimed that her government in Uttar Pradesh guaranteed "safety, dignity, and welfare" of all sections of society, including the poor, the oppressed, and the Bahujan Samaj.
"The welfare of the nation's Bahujans is solely inherent in the BSP's iron guarantee," said the four-time UP chief minister.
लोकसभा में नेता प्रतिपक्ष द्वारा यह स्वीकार करना कि देश के विशाल आबादी वाले अन्य पिछड़े वर्ग (ओबीसी) समाज के लोगों की राजनीतिक व आर्थिक आशा, आकांक्षा व आरक्षण सहित उन्हें उनका संवैधानिक हक़ दिलाने के मामलों में कांग्रेस पार्टी खरी व विश्वासपात्र नहीं रही है कोई नई बात नहीं है,…
— Mayawati (@Mayawati) July 26, 2025
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