About two years after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat accused OTT platforms of fostering “moral corruption,” the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has formed an informal panel to address what it calls “cultural pollution” in streaming content. This group—which includes former university vice-chancellors and RSS pracharaks with experience in education and culture—plans to propose regulatory solutions to the Union Ministry of Culture and other central government bodies.
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## Informal Panel Formed To Tackle OTT Content
Sources indicate the new panel was established several months ago, with its inaugural meeting taking place last month. While it operates informally, the group’s mandate is clear: suggest concrete measures to curb objectionable content on OTT (Over The Top) platforms, particularly material believed to harm families and the youth. One source emphasised the need for “something like a censor board” to oversee such content.
There is no fixed deadline for presenting their proposal. Before finalising recommendations, the panel intends to engage with legal experts and other stakeholders.
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## Bhagwat’s Earlier Remarks: Setting The Context
Bhagwat first raised serious concerns about OTT content during his Vijayadashami speech in Nagpur on October 12, 2024. He described what is shown on these platforms as “so disgusting that talking about it too would be indecent” and asserted that courts should regulate OTT content under law. Featuring perversion, he warned, these platforms contribute to a broader moral decline.
RSS leaders say this latest move was triggered by feedback from Kutumb Prabodhan—an initiative within the Sangh aimed at reinforcing traditional family values, strengthening intergenerational relationships, and promoting social harmony. From that perspective, OTT platforms are viewed as one of several sources of moral erosion in society.
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## Regulation vs. Certification: Legal Gaps and Existing Oversight
Currently, films released in theatres are regulated under the Cinematograph Act of 1952 by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). In contrast, OTT content falls under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, along with related laws such as the IT Act and criminal statutes. RSS sources argue that this regulatory framework has gaps when it comes to police, censor, or classify content broadcast online.
During a recent parliamentary session on July 22, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, L. Murugan, reported that around 50 OTT platforms had been blocked in India in the previous two years. Reasons cited included displaying obscene content or violating provisions under the IT Act, section 294 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.
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## RSS’s Plan And Possible Policy Directions
While recommendations from the panel have yet to be submitted, current RSS discussions reveal calls for the establishment of a dedicated censor-like authority for OTT platforms. Proposals will likely address:
– Strengthening legal mechanisms to oversee, classify, and restrict content not covered adequately under existing laws.
– Developing statutory bodies or regulatory boards specifically designed for OTT content oversight.
– Incorporating input from law professionals, educators, cultural leaders, and public stakeholders before formalising regulations.
Sources maintain that any new regulation must balance governance with legal safeguards. The group emphasises that proposals should be mindful of both constitutional frameworks and civil liberties.
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## Reactions and Implications
Supporters of this initiative believe stricter oversight is essential to protect young people and preserve cultural values. They view OTT platforms as having expanded rapidly, often beyond the reach of agencies meant to safeguard societal norms.
On the other hand, critics may argue that excessive regulation risks censorship, creative suppression, and undermining artistic freedom. Legal experts may raise questions about how such a censorship body would interact with existing digital media laws and whether it might lead to judicial or legislative challenges. Although not yet raised in the sources, these debates are likely to intensify once the panel’s proposals emerge.
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## The Road Ahead
This informal panel marks a notable escalation in the RSS’s involvement with regulating digital content. As the group consults with legal and cultural stakeholders, its recommendations could influence national policy on OTT regulation. Whether this leads to new legislation, regulatory amendments, or an independent censor authority remains to be seen.
Regardless, this move reflects growing concerns within certain quarters over how OTT platforms impact social norms, morality, and youth culture in India. The next few months will be critical, as consultations conclude and proposals take shape.
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