News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority
Also called: NBDSA · Topic: Civil Society, Pressure Groups, NGOs and Self-help Groups · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) is a self-regulatory body. Members of the News Broadcasters and Digital Association (NBDA) set it up to check their own conduct. It hears complaints against member news channels. It can order them to apologise, run corrections or pay fines. It matters because private TV news has no statutory press council of its own. NBDSA is the industry's own check on itself.
Example
Suppose a member channel airs a false or one-sided news report. A viewer can complain to NBDSA, which may order the channel to broadcast an apology or correction, or to pay a fine. Private TV channels are otherwise governed by the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995.
Don't confuse with
- Press Council of India: a statutory body under the Press Council Act 1978. It covers print only and can warn or censure but cannot fine. NBDSA is not set up by law, but it can impose fines on its members.
- Prasar Bharati: the public broadcaster that runs channels. It does not regulate private channels.
Related concepts
- Fourth pillar of democracy
- Press Council of India
- Press and Registration of Periodicals Act 2023
- Prasar Bharati
- IT Rules 2021