Bollywood's biggest stars ignite the screen! From the dazzling premiere of [mention a recently released film or event] to the brewing controversies surrounding [mention a current entertainment scandal], India's entertainment scene is ablaze. This week saw [mention a significant entertainment event, e.g., a music launch, award ceremony, or box office milestone], further cementing India's position as a global entertainment powerhouse. The battle for box office supremacy heats up as [mention competing films or actors], while the digital realm witnesses the rise of [mention a trending OTT series or online sensation]. Beyond Bollywood, regional cinema continues to flourish, with [mention a noteworthy achievement in regional cinema]. From the vibrant world of music to the captivating realm of television, Abtak.com brings you the pulse of Indian entertainment. Dive in and stay updated on the latest news, reviews, and exclusive interviews—your ultimate destination for all things entertainment. Explore the captivating stories unfolding now!
NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has extended the suspension of Television Rating Points for news channels by another four weeks, keeping the industry in a ratings blackout for a longer stretch. In an order dated March 31, the ministry directed the Broadcast Audience Research Council to continue withholding TRP data "for a further period of four weeks or until further directions, whichever is earlier." This marks the second such directive after an initial four-week pause was imposed on March 6. The government said the extension is aimed at curbing unwarranted sensationalism and speculative reporting, particularly in the context of the ongoing tensions in West Asia. It noted that the conflict continues to evolve and could trigger anxiety among viewers, especially those with personal or economic ties to the region. TRPs serve as the primary yardstick for measuring television viewership and play a crucial role in shaping advertising revenues and competitive positioning among news broadcasters. Their absence effectively removes a key performance benchmark, forcing channels to operate without publicly available ratings. The directive applies specifically to news television channels and has been issued under the government's regulatory powers in the interest of public order. While the move is framed as a temporary measure, its continuation suggests ongoing concerns about the tone and nature of coverage. For broadcasters, the extended blackout means navigating a high-stakes news cycle without the usual scoreboard. Whether it tempers the noise or simply shifts the battle elsewhere remains to be seen, but for now, the ratings race is officially on pause.
NEW DELHI: Axiom-4 crew members, including Shubhanshu Shukla, were welcomed with hugs and drinks as they stepped into the International Space Station on Thursday. The newly launched spacecraft -- the fifth in the Dragon series and named Grace -- successfully completed a soft docking with the International Space Station at 4.01pm while orbiting above the North Atlantic Ocean."At 6:31 am EDT (4:01 IST) on Thursday, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked to the International Space Station for the fourth private astronaut mission to the orbiting laboratory, Axiom Mission 4," the National Aeronautics ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: India's telecom regulator has trained its sights on a fast-growing corner of the broadcasting market that has so far operated in a regulatory grey zone. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released a consultation paper on Monday seeking to build a formal regulatory framework for application-based linear television distribution (ALTD) services, a category that includes free ad-supported streaming television, better known as FAST services. The move follows a reference from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, made on 15th December 2025 under Section 11(1)(a) of ...Read More >
New Delhi, Nov 17 (PTI) The government on Monday said it has decided to increase print media advertisement rates by 26 per cent. This will yield several significant benefits, both for the government and the media landscape, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said in a statement. "The media rates for print media per sq cm for 1 lakh copies of dailies in the black and white advertisement have been enhanced from Rs 47.40 to Rs 59.68, an increase of 26 per cent," it said. The government has also agreed to the recommendations of the Rate Structure Committee (RSC) relating to premium ra ...Read More >
New Delhi, April 7: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) on Tuesday directed the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to continue withholding the publication of Television Rating Points (TRPs) for news channels for an additional four weeks, or until further orders, citing concerns over sensationalism and speculative reporting related to the ongoing West Asia conflict. "According to the direction, whereas the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had issued a Direction dated 06.03.2026 to M/s Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), a Television Rating agency, to imme ...Read More >
Mumbai, July 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) Actor Harshvardhan Rane, who was last seen in 'The Miranda Brothers', is heaping praise on the recently released film 'Saiyaara', and its team. On Saturday, the actor took to the Stories section of his Instagram, and penned a special note for the film and its makers after it witnessed a stellar opening day. He wrote, "Another melodious example of a love story shattering all myths and formulas of the industry. Honest heart wrenching love story wins again in 2025! #Saiyaara". 'Saiyaara', which stars Aneet Padda, and marks the debut of Ahaan Panday, is helmed b ...Read More >
MUMBAI: When the numbers go silent, the noise on screen gets a little harder to measure. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has extended the suspension of television rating data for news channels, directing Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to withhold TRPs for another four weeks. The latest order, issued on March 31, 2026, builds on an earlier directive from March 6 that had paused ratings for a month. The ministry has clarified that the blackout will continue for four weeks or until further instructions are issued whichever comes earlier keeping the industry in a prolonged sta ...Read More >
Mumbai: The city's troubled monorail service suffered yet another disruption Monday morning when a train developed a technical snag near Wadala, forcing an emergency evacuation of 17 passengers.Services between Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk and Wadala were operated on a single line for more than two hours, leading to bunching up of rakes, though operations on the Wadala-Chembur section remained unaffected. Officials said the incident occurred around 7.15am when a train stalled between Antop Hill Bus Depot and GTBN stations due to a software-related issue. MMRDA alerted the fire brigade, but evacuat ...Read More >
The government is taking steps to support traditional media amid rapid digitisation. Initiatives include TRP reforms, raising advertisement rates, and integrating RNI, CBC, and PIB for better coordination. Efforts also focus on improving transparency, outreach, and fact-checking, including a chatbot to verify online content and videos. The government has planned a series of initiatives to shield the conventional media from the disruptions expected due to rapid digitisation in the sector. Union ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], April 7 (ANI): The dispute over the RK Family Trust has intensified, with Rani Kapur issuing a fresh cease-and-desist communication to Priya Kapur, reiterating that she no longer holds the position of trustee and must immediately stop acting in that capacity. The latest letter, dated April 6, follows an earlier notice sent on March 21, in which Rani Kapur invoked provisions of the trust deed dated October 26, 2017, to remove Priya Kapur as a trustee. According to the communication, the removal became effective after the expiry of a 15-day notice period, making Priya Kapur's ...Read More >
New Delhi: The ministry of information and broadcasting has extended its directive to suspend television rating points (TRPs) for news channels by another four weeks, citing concerns over sensationalizing West Asia conflict.In an order issued on March 31, the ministry said the step was necessary in public interest, as the conflict "still largely prevails at the moment". The direction continues the March 6 order that had first halted TRP reporting amid concerns that competitive pressures were driving "unwarranted sensationalism and speculative content" by sections of the news media, and. The mo ...Read More >
TRAI proposes regulatory framework for free TV streaming platforms like Samsung TV Plus and Pluto TV, citing concerns over licensing, content oversight, and fair competition. The free television streaming model on smart TVs is likely to face regulatory scrutiny, with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) proposing a formal framework to regulate such platforms, while pointing to concerns around licensing, content accountability and fair competition. In a consultation paper, the regula ...Read More >
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has extended its direction to the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to withhold television rating points (TRPs) for news channels by another four weeks, as the West Asia conflict continues. According to a fresh order dated March 31, 2026, the ministry asked BARC to continue suspending the publication of TRPs "for a further period of four (4) weeks or until further directions, whichever is earlier." This is the second such directive. The ...Read More >
New Delhi, Oct 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) The government is preparing a series of measures to safeguard traditional media -- including print, radio, and television -- from the disruptions caused by rapid digitisation, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Saturday. Speaking to reporters, Vaishnaw said the Centre is focused on removing regulatory hurdles in the media sector and introducing reforms in areas such as radio licensing and Television Rating Point (TRP) systems. "The government is working to remove regulatory barriers wherever they exist," the minister said, ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram (Keralam) [India], April 3 (ANI): Amid criticism from Keralam Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday asserted that minorities are receiving greater attention under the Government of India. He accused the Congress of treating Muslims as a vote bank and clarified that only illegal FCRA accounts would be impacted by the proposed changes. Also Read | Global Food Prices Set to Surge Further if West Asia Conflict Persists Beyond 40 Days, Warns FAO. Speaking to ANI, Rijiju said, "I am ...Read More >
New Delhi: Economists on Friday said they do not expect any change in repo rate or stance this time amid geopolitical tensions, as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) gears up for its monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting next week. According to them, the tone will be cautious and what will be eagerly awaited is RBI's forecast of GDP and inflation under the prevailing uncertainty. "We do not expect any measures for either liquidity or currency management as RBI will do whenever required as we have seen of late," said Madan Sabnavis, Chief Economist, Bank of Baroda (BoB). The three-day policy ...Read More >
To foster competition and reflect evolving media consumption, the government proposes amendments to TV rating guidelines, removing entry barriers and cross-holding restrictions. These changes aim to allow multiple agencies, encourage new technologies, and provide more reliable data, especially for connected TV platforms. The move seeks to build a more transparent and inclusive TV rating ecosystem in India.New Delhi, In a bid to encourage competition, the government has proposed to remove entry ba ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], April 6 (ANI): The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Monday released a consultation paper seeking stakeholder views on framing a regulatory framework for application-based Linear Television Distribution (ALTD) services, including Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) platforms. The move follows a reference from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), which highlighted concerns over the rapid growth of FAST services operating without a clear regulatory structure. TRAI noted that these platforms, often pre-installed on smart TVs or accessed v ...Read More >
Hyderabad (Telangana), April 7 (ANI): In a scathing attack on the Revanth Reddy-led administration, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) condemned the detention of senior party leaders, describing the government's tactics as "cowardly" and a direct assault on democratic values. The outcry follows the police crackdown on BRS Deputy Floor Leaders T Harish Rao and Sabitha Indra Reddy, along with former MLAs Mahesh Reddy, Narender Reddy, and Methuku Anand. The leaders were reportedly placed under house arrest or detained while attempting to join farmers protesting land ...Read More >
New Delhi: The government has planned a series of initiatives to shield the conventional media from the disruptions expected due to rapid digitisation in the sector. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday said the government plans to remove the regulatory overhang in the radio industry and Television Rating Point (TRP) reforms. "The government is working to remove regulatory barriers wherever they exist," the minister said in an informal interaction with reporters here. Vaishnaw said the ministry is exploring ways to improve the television rating system to en ...Read More >
HT visited Rajkumari Amrit Kaur College of Nursing in Lajpat Nagar, where the exercise began at 8:10 pm with a complete blackout across the campus. The campus, which housed around 250 students along with academic and administrative staff, then saw a swift and coordinated response from multiple agencies to carry out evacuation and rescue operations. A circular to carry out a mock drill was issued by the directorate of civil defence to magistrates of 13 district last week. Also Read: Delhi to wit ...Read More >
HYDERABAD: Even as Donald Trump dashed off a missive announcing 100 per cent tariffs on branded, patented pharma products, Hyderabad, which has a significant number of pharma companies exporting to the US, may not see an impact, said industry officials. "The announcement is vague. The use of terms branded and patent in the message leaves scope for varied interpretation. India is predominantly a generic exporter and I don't think it impacts Hyderabad or even India," said R Udaya Bhasker, former director general of Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India, a commerce ministry wing head ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has directed the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to withhold the publication of Television Rating Points (TRPs) for news TV channels for another four weeks or until further orders. The move comes amid concerns over the coverage of the ongoing Israel-Uran conflict. According to the ministry, the decision aims to curb "unwarranted sensationalism and speculative content" being aired by some news channels, which could create panic among viewers. The directive, issued on Tuesday, is an extension of an earlier order dated Mar ...Read More >
The Centre has urged industries to adopt ethical practices in food product labelling and advertising to safeguard public health and consumer interests. This call was made during a National Stakeholder Consultation on the regulatory framework for food labelling, advertising, and claims, as stated by the Health Ministry. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, organised this consultation. Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary of the M ...Read More >
New Delhi, April 3 (SocialNews.XYZ) Economists on Friday said they do not expect any change in repo rate or stance this time amid geopolitical tensions, as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) gears up for its monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting next week. According to them, the tone will be cautious and what will be eagerly awaited is RBI's forecast of GDP and inflation under the prevailing uncertainty. "We do not expect any measures for either liquidity or currency management as RBI will do whenever required as we have seen of late," said Madan Sabnavis, Chief Economist, Bank of Baroda (BoB ...Read More >