In an attempt to control news channels, the Centre has proposed setting up of a government appointed committee - the National Broadcast Authority of India - that will have the power to screen programmes or advertisements before broadcast, and formulate the content code.

            The committee will have all the powers that were part of the  Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill, 2007.

          The I&B ministry's new draft envisages a three-tiered redressal structure with the initial two tiers of content monitoring being that of self-regulation. Grievances or complaints that are not settled by the channel itself or by the industry association (at the second level) will then go to the NBAI. The NBAI will be the final authority for all issues related to content and carriage.

            The ministry's task force report gives the NBAI the power to authorise officers to block news content if public tranquility is disturbed as described under Section 19 of the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act. It also suggests that the Centre retain powers to intervene in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of the country.

          The NBAI will, according to the draft, comprise one representative of the media, while the other six members will include "eminent persons'' with 15 years of experience from fields of law, public administration, finance, IT and social work.

        The NBAI members are proposed to be appointed by a committee headed by the Vice President and including the Lok Sabha Speaker, a Supreme Court judge or alternatively a nominee of the President or Press Council of India chairman.