Policy Affairs & Regulatory Initiatives Council — IDMRB
Shaping balanced, progressive, and transparent digital media policies in India.
About the Council
The Policy Affairs & Regulatory Initiatives Council of the Indian Digital Media Regulatory Board (IDMRB) serves as the principal think tank and policy advisory body for the digital news and content ecosystem in India.
This Council leads engagement with the Government of India, statutory authorities, and policy-making institutions on matters concerning media regulation, digital governance, data privacy, content ethics, and competition frameworks.
Its purpose is to ensure that the collective voice of responsible digital publishers is heard in every policy dialogue — enabling balanced, progressive, and transparent regulations that support both press freedom and public interest.
Key Focus Areas
🔹 Policy Monitoring & Research
- Tracking legislative and regulatory developments on digital content and media competition.
- Conducting policy mapping and publishing updates for members.
- Supporting members with research-based compliance awareness.
🔹 Regulatory Consultation & Representation
- Coordinating unified responses to draft policies and government consultations.
- Preparing evidence-based recommendations for national authorities.
- Ensuring representation in committees and industry forums.
🔹 Legal & Compliance Guidance
- Providing training on media laws, data protection, and IT Rules.
- Developing compliance toolkits for publishers.
- Facilitating access to regulatory and legal experts.
🔹 Policy Thought Leadership
- Drafting white papers, position notes, and advocacy documents.
- Collaborating with think tanks and academic institutions.
- Promoting balanced policy discourse on media regulation.
Structure
- Chairperson & Co-Chairperson: Elected from IDMRB member organizations.
- Core Members: Senior experts from legal, regulatory, and editorial teams.
- Advisory Network: Legal scholars and policy professionals.
- Support Secretariat: Managed by IDMRB’s Policy Division.
- Working Groups: Dedicated teams for Data Governance, IT Rules, and Advertising Standards.
Council Objectives
- Advocate progressive digital media policies.
- Ensure member participation in national consultations.
- Build consensus on key regulatory issues.
- Promote self-regulation and ethical media practices.
- Strengthen collaboration with policy bodies and legal experts.
Expected Outcomes
- Enhanced policy awareness and compliance across members.
- Unified policy representations from the digital publishing sector.
- Improved government-industry dialogue.
- Transparent and growth-oriented media governance.