Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Convenes Landmark Conference with State/UT I&PR Secretaries to Forge a Vibrant Future for India’s Media & Entertainment Sector
New Delhi : In a significant stride towards bolstering India’s dynamic media and entertainment landscape, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B), Government of India, today successfully convened a pivotal conference with State and Union Territory (UT) Information & Public Relations (I&PR) Secretaries. Held at the esteemed Hall No. 5, Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, this gathering served as a crucial platform to ignite collaboration and cooperation across a spectrum of initiatives vital for the sector’s robust growth and national prominence.
The day’s comprehensive agenda unfolded with a rich tapestry of discussions, meticulously designed to streamline processes, fortify infrastructure, and cultivate a seamlessly integrated ecosystem for content creation and dissemination throughout the nation.
The Chief Guest of the event was Union Minister of State for I&B Dr. L. Murugan. Alongside Secretary (I&B), Sanjay Jaju ji, and other esteemed dignitaries, Dr. Murugan highlighted that states and union territories have a significant role to play in building a modern, inclusive, and efficient media and entertainment ecosystem. He emphasized that the government highly prioritizes the entertainment sector and has taken several steps to promote this “orange economy.” He noted that initiatives such as the Press Sewa Portal, India Cine Hub, International Film Festivals, WAVES Bazaar, and the WAVE Summit have already transformed the landscape. Dr. Murugan further stressed that these reforms are not merely policy shifts but represent a profound commitment to empower content creators, reduce hurdles, and truly make India a film and media-friendly nation. He concluded by stating that the conference was precisely focused on crucial discussions aimed at boosting India’s media and entertainment industry through streamlined processes, a single-window clearance system, and industry-friendly policies, all as envisioned by our Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji.
Presiding over the deliberations was Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. He emphasized that India has recently witnessed an exponential growth in content creation. Jaju further highlighted that while the expansion of regional and vernacular media presents immense opportunities, it also introduces new challenges for public communication. He underscored the significance of the National Conference as a crucial forum for secretaries to deliberate on critical issues and foster collaboration, ultimately tapping into the brimming potential for strengthening the economy and building community relationships.
The deliberations commenced with an in-depth exploration of the full-scale implementation and seamless functionality of the Press Sewa Portal (https://presssewa.prgi.gov.in). This singular digital gateway, established under the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act (PRP Act) 2023, stands as a testament to digital governance. States and UTs received a fervent call to action, urging them to expedite the Act’s notification and ensure diligent login and timely application processing by their respective District Magistrates/Collectors. A central pillar of discussion revolved around the recently revitalized India Cine Hub (FFO) portal, which debuted on June 28, 2024. This unified, single-window system is revolutionizing film-related permissions and incentives across India. Delegations were strongly encouraged to embrace the Common Application Form (CAF) workflow, channel all filming-related applications through this intuitive portal, and actively contribute invaluable data to enrich its GIS-based location compendium.
Addressing the persistent challenge of uneven cinema access, particularly in rural and semi-urban heartlands, the Ministry unveiled forward-thinking strategies to champion low-cost, modular, and mobile cinema models. This included pinpointing low-screen density zones, ingeniously leveraging existing infrastructure, establishing streamlined single-window clearance systems, introducing compelling tax incentives, and reforming land policies to accelerate the proliferation of affordable cinematic experiences. Following the resounding success of the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, the conference spotlighted unparalleled opportunities for States and UTs to proudly showcase their breathtaking shooting destinations, promote attractive incentive schemes, and passionately encourage the participation of burgeoning creative talent and cinephiles in groundbreaking initiatives such as ‘Creative Minds of Tomorrow’ (CMOT) and the prestigious Indian Panorama section. Furthermore, the immense collaborative potential for States with WAVES Bazaar, India’s premier year-round marketplace for the Media & Entertainment (M&E) industry, was thoroughly explored.
This encompassed showcasing state-based content and talent, robustly supporting industry delegations, fostering co-creation and cross-regional partnerships, celebrating rich cultural heritage, facilitating strategic investment in infrastructure, and nurturing academic collaborations. In alignment with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s visionary call to harness the immense potential of the concert economy, the conference dedicated significant attention to the strategic development of live entertainment infrastructure. States and UTs were earnestly requested to mandate robust frameworks for the optimal utilization of existing sports infrastructure for cultural events, seamlessly onboard live event clearances onto the India Cine Hub portal, meticulously appoint dedicated Nodal Agencies/Officers, transparently share venue specifications and detailed permission protocols, and diligently streamline security clearance procedures. The day concluded with an insightful presentation by Dhirendra Ojha, Principal Director General, Press Information Bureau, underscoring the imperative of strengthening information dissemination channels between the Ministry of I&B and State/UT I&PR Departments, ensuring a cohesive national narrative.
This landmark conference unequivocally underscored the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting’s unwavering commitment to cultivating a robust, dynamic, and globally competitive media and entertainment sector, thereby serving as a powerful engine for economic growth, widespread employment generation, and profound cultural exchange across the diverse tapestry of India.Among the delegates present from various states and UTs were Commissioner, secretaries, Director and Deputy Directors, Field Publicity Officer, and Delegates from PIB, DDK, AIR. Chow Bilaseng Namchoom attended the conference, representing the vibrant state of Arunachal Pradesh on behalf of its Secretary, IPR, Nyali Ete.