The Government has refuted a fake message circulating on social media claiming that it has made new draft rules that will force 11 crore TVs to shut down, increase cable and DTH charges four to six times, impose heavy licensing fees, and destroy millions of jobs. The  Fact Check Unit of  Press Information Bureau (PIB) has termed the claim as fake, and the government has not introduced any rule that will increase TV subscription charges by four to six times or shut down television services in the country. 

 

PIB clarified that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting published the draft Telecommunications (Television, Radio and Associated Services) Rules, 2026, which are presently open for public and stakeholder consultation until July 27 this year, and there is no provision to increase any fee in the draft rules. It added that the rules aim to consolidate the various guidelines issued for television and radio services and are designed to simplify and harmonise the existing regime while promoting ease of doing business in the television and radio broadcasting sector.