Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: NBDSA

Mains level: Not Much

The NBDSA has fined the news channel for turning a news debate on hijab into a “communal issue” and not adhering to guidelines.

What is the News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA)?

The NBDSA is a self-regulatory agency set up by news and digital broadcasters.
It is an independent body set up by the News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA), which serves as a representative of private television news, current affairs and digital broadcasters.
It describes itself as “the collective voice of the news, current affairs and digital broadcasters in India.”
Funded entirely by its members, the NBDA has 26 news and current affairs broadcasters (comprising 119 news and current affairs channels) as its members.
Various senior members of Indian media organisations serve on its Board of Directors.

Composition of the NBDSA

The body includes a Chairperson who is to be an eminent jurist, and other members such as news editors, and those experienced in the field of law, education, literature, public administration, etc.
They are to be nominated by a majority of the Board.
Former Supreme Court judge and jurist AK Sikri is currently serving as the Chairperson.

Within this structure, it lays-down and foster high standards, ethics and practices in news broadcasting, including entertaining and deciding complaints against or in respect of broadcasters.
These standards mention a focus on objectivity, impartiality, maintaining discretion when reporting on crime against women and children, not endangering national security, etc.

NBDSA may initiate proceedings on its own and issue notice or take action in respect to any matter which falls within its regulations.
This can also be through complaints referred to the Authority by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting or any other governmental body, or by anyone else via its website.
A “two-tier” procedure is in place for redressing grievances, where any person aggrieved by the content of any broadcast is required to first make a complaint to the concerned broadcaster and then the Authority if dissatisfied.

The NBDSA held that the programme was in violation of the principles relating to impartiality, neutrality, fairness and good taste and decency.
It said that it did not have any problem with the subject but with the narrative of the debate.