The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has ordered the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to immediately suspend the reporting of Television Rating Points (TRPs) for all TV news channels for four weeks or until further orders, citing concerns over what it described as “unwarranted sensationalism and speculative content” in coverage of the ongoing Israel‑Iran conflict.
The ministry’s directive comes after it noted that some news channels have been exhibiting “unwarranted sensationalism and speculative content” regarding the Israel‑Iran conflict. It added that such coverage “may potentially create panic among the general public,” especially for those with friends or family in the affected areas or living in conflict zones.
The order invokes Clause 24.2 of the 2014 Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies, which requires agencies to comply with “any orders, regulations, guidelines, directions, etc., issued by the Ministry from time to time.”
Citing this provision, the ministry instructed BARC to immediately halt TRP reporting for TV news channels. “Therefore, in the public interest, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting hereby directs M/s BARC to immediately withhold reporting the Television Rating Points (TRPs) for news TV channels,” the directive stated.
The current phase of the conflict began after US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior officials. In retaliation, Tehran has carried out counter-strikes targeting US bases and Israeli-linked assets.
The government cited concerns that Indian news coverage has included “speculative content” that “may potentially create panic among the general public.”
BARC, India’s registered television rating agency, measures viewership and publishes Television Rating Points (TRPs), which guide broadcasters and advertisers in programming and ad decisions. Under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s 2014 policy framework, agencies are required to follow ministerial directives. The latest order temporarily suspends TRP publication for news channels while the coverage of the Israel-Iran conflict is reviewed.
