The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has proposed policy guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India, which was initially notified on January 16, 2014.   In an order circulated on July 02, 2025, the Ministry has sought feedback on the proposed amendments from the general public and stakeholders within 30 days.    According to the order, the revised clause 1.1 states that any applicant seeking registration to provide television rating services should be a company registered in India under the Companies Act.   Clause 1.4 has been substituted to prohibit any activities like consultancy or any such advisory role that may conflict with its primary objective of rating.   The Ministry has proposed the deletion of several clauses from the original policy. Clauses 1.5 and 1.7 of the guidelines and a related proviso have been deleted.   These revised norms will come into effect immediately and apply to new entrants as well as existing registered companies.

News18 Lokmat recently hosted the Samruddha Maharashtra 2025 conclave, bringing together ministers, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and artists to discuss the state’s growth agenda. The event opened with a panel on Maharashtra’s future, featuring young leaders like Meghana Bordikar and Shaina NC, who spoke on youth, innovation, and sustainability. Aaditya Thackeray shared his vision of the “Maharashtra Pattern of Politics” focused on transparency, inclusiveness, and youth participation. A political panel with leaders like Jitendra Awhad and Uday Samant discussed collaboration across party lines. On the economy, business leaders and economist Ajit Ranade highlighted the role of entrepreneurs in driving growth. Cultural icons Mahesh Manjrekar and Om Raut spoke on how cinema and theatre shape the state’s identity. Deputy CM Eknath Shinde and CM Devendra Fadnavis shared key policy and development plans.

Image source: Fox News, Tibetan Review and ABC News; Edited by Dinesh Raj M   On the eve of his 90th birthday, the 14th Dalai Lama has reignited global attention with a bold proclamation: the 600-year-old spiritual title will continue after his passing and its successor will be chosen by the Gaden Phodrang Trust, not China.  Hot off the Press Rohit Mullick of The Times of India reported that the Dalai Lama firmly stated, "no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter." The Indian Express' Varinder Bhatia detailed how the Dalai Lama, in a video message to the 15th Tibetan Religious Conference in McLeod Ganj, said that the Gaden Phodrang Trust, which he established in 2015, holds exclusive responsibility for identifying his reincarnation. "It is not necessary that the next Dalai Lama be from Tibet," noted Samdhong Rinpoche, a Trust member, ruling out any geographical or gender-based limitations. Dar Ovais and Rezaul H Laskar, writing in Hindustan Times, repor

After attending last month’s Queensland Games Festival, Qualbert Founder and Editor, Dr Ben Schuster, said  fishing game Cast n Chill is the one to watch.  Schuster told Influencing, “I was excited about Cast n Chill – a cosy fishing game with stunning pixel art, some of the best I've ever seen, made by a developer in Brisbane and another in Melbourne. They also recruited pixel artists from Canada, who have brought the Canadian landscape to life in the game.  “It's been extremely popular and was released a couple of weeks ago. “I played through the entire game, and another update is scheduled to drop later this year. It's fantastic to see a local game receive international recognition. I’m keen to see more of Cast n Chill in the future and am stoked for the developers.” But Schuster’s favourite game from the festival was Broadside Games’ Chunk, an action-adventure game.  This was the 11th year of the festival and the third under this new title. Held on June

Storyboard18 conducted the Digital Entertainment Summit on June 27, 2025, at The Leela Palace in New Delhi.  Speaking at the summit, Dr L Murugan, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, emphasised how India has transitioned from being a consumer of global entertainment to a creative powerhouse, highlighting the nation’s growing influence in global digital entertainment.   Underscoring India’s capabilities in digital storytelling, production, and technological innovation, Murugan highlighted the Indian government’s role in fostering the digital entertainment ecosystem, mentioning support for talent development, infrastructure, and policy initiatives that position India as a key player in the global media landscape.   He also spoke about online gaming’s rapid evolution, with over 500 million players, AVGC-XR, and the role of government-led initiatives like WAVES 2025 and the Indian Institute of Creative Technology in nurtu

Image source: Newslaundry, ET and Internet Freedom; Edited by Dinesh Raj M   The Karnataka Mis-Information and Fake News (Prohibition) Bill, 2025, a sweeping legislation empowering a committee of lawmakers to identify and label content on social media as "fake news" -- a first of its kind state legislation -- appears to be an exercise in curbing free speech in the garb of eradicating fake news. For instance, according to the proposed law, fake news includes content that is “anti-feminism” and “disrespect of Sanatan symbols” and any social media users, if found guilty by the concerned “Authority” for posting fake news on the social media platform shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend up to seven years and fine which may extend up to Rs 10 lakh or with both. That “Authority,” under Section 5 of the Bill, includes the Minister for Kannada and Culture Information and Broadcasting as the ex-officio Chairperson; one member each from the Legislativ

Travel journalism is undergoing a sharp transformation as social media rewires how people explore the world. The rise of influencers, reels and short-form content has reshaped the traditional role of the travel reporter, once grounded in immersive, narrative-led storytelling. Speaking to Influencing India, Aakanksha Rapolu, Feature Writer at 11 Eleven Media, said: “The decline of print media and the rise of social media have reshaped travel journalism. Today, access to the internet is easier than ever, and people prefer fast, visual content over long-form articles.” She added that editors now expect journalists to match influencer speed and reach. “Influencers reach wider audiences faster, often without limitations. They earn more, enjoy creative freedom, and don’t have to stick to editorial guidelines.”  Rapolu believes that deeply researched travel writing is increasingly rare. “In the last five years, influencers have largely replaced travel journalists, moving from