No policy disallowing religious organisations air time

Although the Government has no specific policy on religious organisations having reasonable access to air time on private TV channels, private FM radio and TV channels are free to determine their programming as long as it is in compliance of the relevant programme and advertisement codes. However, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting C M Jatua told Parliament today that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) in its recommendations made on 12 November last year did not favour the entry of religious bodies into broadcasting activities and own their broadcasting stations and teleports. According to Government policy, a company controlled by or associated with a religious body is disqualified from seeking FM radio permissions.