Govt withdraws new draft of Broadcast bill amid criticism
New Delhi: Facing widespread criticism, the government has withdrawn the new draft of the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2024, which had sparked concerns over potential government overreach in regulating online content. The draft Bill, which was privately shared with select stakeholders last month, faced pushback from independent content creators and tech companies.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has reportedly asked stakeholders to return their copies of the draft Bill. The ministry is expected to revise the proposal and release a new draft after further consultations.
The draft Bill, which was an expansion of the November 2023 version, aimed to regulate not just OTT platforms and digital news but also social media accounts and online video creators. This move raised alarms about the freedom of speech, particularly among independent creators who would have been categorized as "OTT broadcasters" under the proposed regulations.
The draft also sought to establish a "Code of Ethics" for online content, which had already been challenged in court. The ministry's statement, however, did not acknowledge the newly withdrawn draft, leading to confusion among stakeholders about the status of their feedback on the earlier version.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Thunderstorm hits Lucknow, IMD issues red alert across multiple UP districts
Lucknow: Shortly after the India Meteorological Department issued a red alert warning of severe weather conditions in the region, a sudden thunderstorm hit Lucknow and adjoining districts on Monday morning.
The Indian Express reported that the skies turned dark around 8:45 am as strong winds lashed parts of the city. Incidents of tree falls were reported from several locations, disrupting traffic and normal movement.
The weather department said thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, hail and gusty winds of 40 to 60 kmph are likely to continue over the next three hours across several districts.
A red alert has been issued for districts including Unnao, Barabanki, Hardoi, Sitapur, Bahraich, Gonda, Shravasti and Lakhimpur Kheri, where moderate thunderstorms with hail and strong winds may damage trees, power lines and temporary structures.
An orange alert is in place for Rae Bareli, Amethi, Kanpur Nagar, Ayodhya, Kanpur Dehat, Auraiya, Kannauj, Farrukhabad, Shahjahanpur and Balrampur, where thunderstorms with lightning and winds up to 60 kmph could lead to localised disruptions.
Major parts of the state remains under yellow alert, including districts such as Prayagraj, Agra, Bareilly, Aligarh and Moradabad, where light rain, lightning and winds of 30 to 40 kmph are expected.
Authorities have advised residents to remain indoors, avoid open areas and trees during lightning, and secure loose objects.
