Media, communication, and entertainment laws in India are governed by constitutional provisions, statutes, regulations, and judicial precedents, covering print, broadcasting, digital content, and telecommunications. Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, including press freedom, with reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2) in areas like public order, defamation, and morality.
Key laws include the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 for print media, the Prasar Bharati Act, 1990 for public broadcasting, and the Cinematograph Act, 1952 for film certification. The IT Act, 2000, and the 2021 Intermediary Guidelines govern digital content and online platforms.
Regulatory bodies include the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), Press Council of India (PCI), and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). Key issues include censorship, fake news, OTT regulation, and privacy concerns due to the absence of a comprehensive data protection law.
