Regulation of Explicit Content on OTT Platforms
Syllabus: GS2/Social Issues; Government Policies and Interventions
Context
- Recently, the Supreme Court of India has taken a significant step by issuing notices to the Central Government and other stakeholders regarding a plea to regulate sexually explicit content on Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms and social media.
Rapid Growth of OTT Platforms in India
- The rapid growth of Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms in India has revolutionized entertainment, offering diverse content to millions of viewers.
- With increasing internet penetration, affordable data, and a shift in consumer preferences, OTT platforms have emerged as a dominant force in digital media consumption.
Current Regulatory Framework
- IT Rules, 2021: OTT platforms are governed by the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
- These rules mandate content classification, parental controls, and a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism.
- Content Classification: Content is categorized based on age suitability, such as U (Universal), U/A 7+, U/A 13+, and A (Adult).
- Platforms must display content ratings and provide parental locks for adult content.
- Grievance Redressal: A three-tier mechanism includes self-regulation by platforms, an industry-level body, and oversight by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B).
- Platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime follow self-regulatory frameworks such as the Digital Publishers Content Grievances Council (DPCGC).
- Over-the-Top Platforms Regulatory Authority Bill, 2021: It proposed to establish an Over-the -Top (OTT) Platforms Regulatory Authority to ensure complete ban on showing violent, abusive and vulgar web series, films or such other similar content on OTT Platforms in the country and for matters connected therewith.
- However, it lapsed with the dissolution of the 17th Lok Sabha.
- Cinematograph Act, 1952 (Amendments for OTT Platforms): The proposed amendments to the Cinematograph Act, 1952 seek to bring OTT platforms under the same regulatory framework as theatrical films, subjecting digital content to age-based certification and censorship norms to ensure parity and accountability across media formats.
Supreme Court’s Intervention & Observation
- A Supreme Court’s Bench acknowledged the seriousness of the issue but emphasized that Regulation of OTT Platforms in India falls within the domain of the Executive and Legislature.
- In Apoorva Arora v. Govt. of NCT of Delhi (2024) Case, Court emphasized the need for objective criteria to determine obscenity, focusing on whether content arouses sexual or lustful thoughts rather than the perceived decency of language.
- However, subjective interpretation remains a challenge.
Challenges in Regulation
- Balancing Freedom and Responsibility: OTT platforms operate on the principle of creative freedom, making outright censorship a contentious issue.
- Striking a balance between freedom of expression and responsible content governance is a key challenge.
- Global Platforms, Local Norms: Many OTT platforms are global entities, complicating the enforcement of India-specific regulations.
- Large Scale Content: The sheer volume of content uploaded daily makes monitoring and regulation a daunting task.
Proposed Measures
- Stricter Guidelines: The government may introduce stricter content guidelines, focusing on explicit material and its accessibility.
- Enhanced Oversight: Strengthening the role of the Ministry of I&B in monitoring content and ensuring compliance with ethical standards.
- National Content Control Authority (NCCA): Need for establishment of NCCA to regulate objectionable material and prevent its unrestricted spread.
- Public Awareness: Educating viewers about content ratings and parental controls to promote responsible consumption.
11th BRICS Labour & Employment Ministers’ Meeting
Syllabus: GS2/IR
Context
- 11th BRICS Labour & Employment Ministers’ Meeting 2025 has adopted the Declaration Under Brazilian Presidency.
About
- The meeting, convened under the slogan “Strengthening the Cooperation of the Global South for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance”.
- The declaration addresses two pivotal themes: “Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Future of Work” and “The Impacts of Climate Change on the World of Work and a Just Transition”.
- The declaration commits BRICS nations to:
- Promote inclusive AI policies that balance innovation with worker protection.
- Advance social dialogue to ensure fair climate transitions.
- Strengthen South-South cooperation on labour governance, digital inclusion, and green job creation.
- A major decision was the creation of a Policy Observatory, a platform for exchanging experiences on decent work and social protection.
Major Challenges Faced by Workers
- Artificial intelligence is radically reshaping labor relations: While technology creates new opportunities, it also brings risks such as job displacement and growing inequalities.
- Ministers expressed concern over disparities among BRICS nations, particularly in access to digital infrastructure, availability and quality of education.
- Focus on Vulnerable Groups: Women, Youth, Older workers, Persons with disabilities are more vulnerable to disruptions caused by automation and adverse effects of climate change.
- Climate Change and Employment: The transition to a low-carbon economy presents both challenges and job creation opportunities.
- Millions of green jobs could be generated, but only with appropriate training.
Suggestions
- Implementation of workforce reskilling programs.
- Strengthening partnerships between universities and private sector companies.
- Investing in digital literacy and future-ready skills development.
- Updating occupational safety and health standards to protect workers exposed to extreme climate conditions.
- Investment in adaptive strategies to future-proof the workforce.
Conclusion
- Representatives from labor unions and international organizations emphasized the need for more equitable global governance and called for the reform of institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank to address poverty and promote decent work.
- They also underscored the importance of climate financing and policies to prevent setbacks.
| BRICS – BRICS is an acronym that refers to a group of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. 1. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates have joined BRICS as new full members. – The term was originally coined by economist Jim O’Neill in 2001. -BRICS brings together five of the largest developing countries of the world, representing around 41% of the global population, around 24% of the global GDP and around 16% of global trade. –Economic growth: All members are projected to grow in 2024, with rates ranging from 1.1% to 6.1% (IMF). –Origin: As a formal grouping, BRIC started after the meeting of the Leaders of Russia, India and China in St. Petersburg on the margins of the G8 Outreach Summit in 2006. 1. The grouping was formalized during the 1st meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers on the margins of UNGA in New York in 2006. 2. Initially, the grouping was termed BRIC as South Africa was inducted in 2010 and from there on it has been referred to as BRICS. –Summits: The governments of the BRICS states have met annually at formal summits since 2009. – BRICS countries have come together to deliberate on important issues under the three pillars of: 1. political and security, 2. economic and financial and 3. cultural and people-to-people exchanges. – New Development Bank: Formerly referred to as the BRICS Development Bank, is a multilateral development bank established by the BRICS states. 1. The Bank shall support public or private projects through loans, guarantees, equity participation and other financial instruments. |
India, France Inter-governmental Agreement on Rafale-M Jets for Navy
Syllabus: GS2/ International Relations
Context
- India and France formally concluded an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA), valued at nearly ₹64,000 crore, to procure 26 Rafale-M fighter jets for the Indian Navy.
- G2G is a mode of defence procurement involving direct negotiation between the government of the importer country with that of the exporter country.
Major Highlights of the Agreement
- Deliveries are set to begin from mid-2028 and likely to be completed by 2030.
- It includes 26 Rafale-M aircraft, it also covers training of crew members in both France and India.
- The package includes extra equipment for the existing Rafale fleet of the Indian Air Force.
- Transfer of Technology: The ToT provisions for the integration of indigenous weapons such as the Astra Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile on the Rafale aircraft.
- It also includes the establishment of a production facility for the Rafale fuselage in India, as well as Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities for aircraft engines, sensors, and weapons.
- Significance: This initiative is expected to generate thousands of jobs and create significant revenue for numerous Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India.
Modernising Indian Navy’s Requirements
- The Indian Navy currently operates two aircraft carriers: INS Vikramaditya, which was acquired from Russia, and INS Vikrant, which was indigenously developed and commissioned in 2022.
- These carriers currently operate the MiG-29K fighter jets, 45 of which were procured from Russia.
- Due to their low availability rates and the approaching end of their service life, the Navy sought to acquire a new fleet of carrier-based fighter jets.
- Although the original plan was to acquire 54 jets, the number was reduced to 26 following the DRDO’s proposal to develop the indigenous Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF).
- The Indian armed forces will also receive 31 MQ-9B armed High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) under a deal with the U.S.
- Of the 31 RPAS, also known as Sea Guardians, 15 are meant for the Navy and eight each for the Army and IAF.
Guidelines For Setting Up Bio-resource Centres
Syllabus: GS3/ Environment
In News
- The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has come up with the guidelines for setting up of bio-input resource centres (BRC) under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF).
Key Highlights of the Guidelines
- Financial Assistance: ₹1 lakh per BRC, provided in two installments of ₹50,000 each.
- Assistance excludes costs like sheds, land rental, or permanent infrastructure.
- Purpose of BRCs: Facilitate cluster-level production and availability of natural farming bio-inputs.
- Act as knowledge hubs for disseminating practices and solutions related to natural farming.
- Tailor bio-inputs according to local soil, crops, and land-use patterns.
- Eligibility: BRCs must be run by entrepreneur groups already practising natural farming.
- If unavailable, the state natural farming cell will identify and onboard farmers willing to transition.
- Affordability Focus: Inputs produced and sold must remain affordable for small and marginal farmers.
- Integration with Other Schemes: Emphasis on convergence with programmes like the Formation and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs, National Mission on Edible Oilseeds, etc.
Significance of the BRC Guidelines under NMNF
- BRCs will locally produce and supply ready-to-use inputs.
- Will promote cluster-based collective efforts, enhancing access to markets and reducing costs.
- BRCs will help scale up natural and organic farming by ensuring quality inputs and region-specific formulations.
About National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)
- Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS)
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare
- Launch Date: November 25, 2024
- Primary Objective: Promote nature-based, sustainable systems of farming
- Reduce dependence on chemical inputs
- Implementation Target (Next 2 Years): To be implemented in 15,000 clusters of willing Gram Panchayats
- Reach out to 1 crore farmers
- Cover 7.5 lakh hectares of agricultural land
National Mission for Clean Ganga Gets Tax Exemption Status
Syllabus :GS 3/Conservation
In News
- The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has granted tax exemption to the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) by notifying it as an authority under clause 46A of Section 10 of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
About Section 10 of the Income Tax Act
- Section 10 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, lays out different types of income that can be exempt from taxes, with the goal of easing the financial load on certain entities.
- The Clause (46A) in this section grants tax exemptions to statutory bodies or authorities that are set up under Central or State Acts, as long as they are working for public purposes.
- This rule helps these authorities make better use of their funds by relieving them of income tax obligations, which in turn encourages them to achieve their goals without being held back by financial issues.
| Do you know? – The Ganga River basin is the largest in India, encompassing 27% of the country’s land mass and supporting about 47% of its population. 1. It is a trans-boundary river forming the world’s largest delta, Sunderbans, spread across India and Bangladesh. – Spanning over 11 states, the basin covers nearly 27% of India’s total geographical area. – The majority of the basin, around 65.57%, is used for agriculture, while water bodies cover 3.47% of the area. – Despite receiving 35.5% of the total water input in terms of precipitation, the Ganga River Basin is the second most water-stressed basin in India, following the Sabarmati Basin, with only 39% of the average per capita annual rainwater input among major Indian river basins. |
National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)
- It was established as a society in 2011 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, and initially served as the implementation arm of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA).
- After NGRBA was dissolved on 7th October 2016, the National Ganga Council was formed to oversee the rejuvenation and protection of the Ganga River.
- The key framework for the Ganga rejuvenation includes a five-tier structure at the national, state, and district levels to combat pollution and ensure adequate water flow.
- The structure consists of the National Ganga Council chaired by the Prime Minister of India.
- Empowered Task Force (ETF) chaired by the Union Minister of Jal Shakti.
- National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).
- State Ganga Committees.
- District Ganga Committees in regions along the Ganga and its tributaries.
- NMCG has a two-tier management structure, consisting of a Governing Council and an Executive Committee, both headed by the Director General (DG) of NMCG. The Executive Committee can approve projects up to ₹1000 crore.
Related Steps
- ‘Namami Gange Programme’, is an Integrated Conservation Mission, approved as ‘Flagship Programme’ by the Union Government in June 2014 with budget outlay of Rs.20,000 Crore to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.
- Main pillars :
Green Hydrogen Production
Syllabus: GS3/ Environment
Context
- Researchers have uncovered new insights into proton adsorption on catalyst surfaces, paving the way for more efficient electrocatalysts for green hydrogen production.
What is hydrogen?
- Hydrogen is the chemical element with the symbol H and atomic number 1.
- Hydrogen is the lightest element and the most abundant chemical substance in the universe, constituting roughly 75% of all normal matter.
- It is colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, and highly combustible gas.
What is Green Hydrogen?
- Green Hydrogen: The hydrogen produced via electrolysis, the splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen with electricity generated from renewable energy sources such as solar or wind, is known as Green hydrogen.
- MNRE defines Green Hydrogen as having a well-to-gate emission (i.e., including water treatment, electrolysis, gas purification, drying and compression of hydrogen) of not more than 2 kg CO2 equivalent / kg H2.
- Gujarat’s Kandla port is the first in India to have an operational Green Hydrogen plant using indigenous Electrolysers.
Challenges
- Risks associated with the transportation: Hydrogen in gaseous form is highly inflammable and difficult to transport, thereby making safety a primary concern.
- High Production Costs: The levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) and electrolyzer costs are major factors driving up the overall production costs.
- Disparity in Production Costs: A substantial disparity between green hydrogen production costs ($5.30- $6.70 per kg) and traditional grey/blue hydrogen production costs ($1.9-$2.4 per kg).
- Technological Readiness: The adoption rates and risk factors associated with futuristic technologies pose challenges for financing and scaling up production.
Greenhouse Gases Emissions Intensity Targets
Syllabus: GS3/ Environment
Context
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the draft Greenhouse Gases Emissions Intensity (GEI) Target Rules, 2025.
What is Greenhouse Gases Emissions Intensity (GEI)?
- GEI refers to the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted per unit of product output (e.g., per tonne of cement or aluminium).
- GHGs include carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), ozone (O₃), and water vapour, along with synthetic gases like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).
- GEI is measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e), a standard unit accounting for the global warming potential of all GHGs.
Draft GEI target Rules
- The emissions intensity targets, with 2023–24 as the baseline year and 2025–26 and 2026–27 as the target years, aim at the gradual reduction of emissions intensity to promote low-carbon industrial growth.
- The draft rules target 282 industrial units across four highly energy-intensive sectors: 13 aluminium plants, 186 cement plants, 53 pulp and paper plants, and 30 chlor-alkali plants.
- Alignment with National Climate Goals: It supports India’s commitment to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.
Government Initiatives
- The Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) Scheme was initiated in the year 2012 and is a market-based mechanism aimed to improve energy efficiency in energy-intensive industries by notifying specific energy consumption reduction targets to industries (called Designated Consumers or DCs).
- Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), 2023 provides a platform to generate, trade, and utilise carbon credits. The entities that reduce emissions below targets can sell surplus credits.
| Carbon Markets – Carbon markets are systems designed to place a price on carbon emissions and create economic incentives for emission reduction, also known as ‘carbon credits’. – A carbon credit is a kind of tradable permit that, per United Nations standards, equals one tonne of carbon dioxide removed, reduced, or sequestered from the atmosphere. – Under Article 17 of the Kyoto Protocol, countries with surplus emission allowances can sell them to those exceeding their targets, creating an international carbon market. Voluntary Offsets – Voluntary offsets refer to measures undertaken by private individuals, including afforestation, that can trap carbon dioxide as commercial projects. – These too generate carbon credits and companies sell them, internationally as of now, to those that require them to meet the compliance regulations. |
Concluding remarks
- The draft GEI Target Rules mark a significant step in transitioning India’s industrial sector toward low-carbon development.
- By combining mandatory targets with a market-driven approach, India is aligning environmental sustainability with economic efficiency — a crucial balance for achieving its climate ambitions.
