The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has issued a fresh advisory to OTT platforms and their self-regulatory bodies, urging them to exercise caution while publishing or transmitting films, web series, biopics, or documentaries related to gangsters and criminals.
The directive, dated October 2025, reiterates the government’s earlier stance from an advisory issued on October 22, 2021. It emphasizes that streaming platforms, more commonly known as over-the-top (OTT) services, must ensure that their content remains sensitive to national interests and does not compromise public order or morality.
In its communication, the Ministry cautioned publishers against material that glorifies or normalizes criminal behavior, noting the potential influence such portrayals can have on public perception and societal attitudes.
Compliance with IT Rules
The advisory calls for strict adherence to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. These regulations outline the responsibilities of digital publishers and establish a three-tier system for self-regulation and oversight.
Publishers have been reminded to avoid uploading, streaming, or transmitting content that undermines the sovereignty or integrity of India, threatens the security of the State, damages India’s relations with foreign countries, or risks inciting violence and disturbing public order. The Ministry clarified that such violations not only breach the IT Rules but also attract applicable provisions of the Indian Penal Code and other relevant laws.
Self-regulatory bodies associated with OTT platforms have been directed to “advise the platforms associated with them” to remain vigilant about compliance and content classification. The notice emphasizes preemptive moderation rather than post-release corrective measures, urging platforms to strengthen internal review mechanisms.
Focus on Responsible Portrayal
Officials from the Ministry said that certain productions had raised concerns for allegedly sensationalizing or romanticizing the lives of criminals. Such portrayals, the advisory says, risk distorting real-world perceptions and undermining efforts to maintain law and order.
The MIB’s renewed emphasis aims to reinforce ethical storytelling and responsible representation, particularly in genres that draw from real criminal cases or notable figures from the underworld. The government has recognized the artistic freedom OTT creators enjoy but maintains that such freedom must be exercised within the framework of legal responsibilities set out in the IT Rules.
Industry observers note that this move reflects a broader attempt to shape the evolving regulatory environment for digital media. The increasing popularity of crime dramas and gangster-themed series on streaming platforms has prompted frequent debates about their influence on young audiences and their compliance with national broadcasting standards.
Broader Government Oversight
The latest directive fits into a pattern of heightened scrutiny over online entertainment content. In recent months, various ministries have engaged in consultations over standardizing digital media oversight, addressing issues ranging from misinformation to objectionable depictions of violence, religion, and ethnicity.
Media analysts view the advisory as part of ongoing efforts to balance creative freedom with accountability in the fast-expanding OTT ecosystem. India now hosts over 40 major streaming platforms, with millions of active subscribers consuming diverse content daily.
The MIB has previously collaborated with industry groups to improve content classification and strengthen age-based ratings for online material. The renewed communication on crime-centric content signals the ministry’s intent to prevent the normalization of law-breaking narratives or content that could incite imitation.
The ministry has stated that it intends to continue engaging with digital publishers and self-regulatory bodies to ensure that compliance measures evolve alongside technological and cultural changes. For the entertainment sector, the message is clear: creative freedom must coexist with responsibility toward national sensitivities and societal well-being.
