The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) in India has called for a complete discontinuation of Pakistani content on OTT platforms, media streaming platforms, and intermediaries operating in India. The move comes after the Indian Army confirmed in an official statement on May 8, 2025, that the Pakistan military attempted drone and missile attacks on 15 Indian cities, 8 of which are in the Indian state of Punjab, 3 in Jammu and Kashmir, 3 in Rajasthan, and 1 in Gujarat.  

Operation Sindoor

Pakistan's Bid to Escalate Negated- Proportionate Response by India.https://t.co/E6e65goX9R#OperationSindoor@DefenceMinIndia@SpokespersonMoD@HQ_IDS_India pic.twitter.com/mURL8hplRA

— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 8, 2025

Advisory on content originating from Pakistan

In light of the Pahalgam terror attack, national security takes precedence. OTT platforms are hereby mandated to remove all content originating from Pakistan.#OperationSindoor #IndiaFightsPropaganda pic.twitter.com/fDBMWqLjBX

— Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (@MIB_India) May 8, 2025

Pakistan's attempted missile attacks on India follows India's May 7 'Operation Sindoor', a counter measure for the April 22 'Pahalgam Terror Attack' that claimed the lives of 26 civilians on vacation in Kashmir. MIB's full statement on the OTT blackout reads, 

To,

1. Publishers of Online Curated Content (OTT Platforms)
2. Media Streaming Platforms
3. Intermediaries

Subject: Advisory on carrying content having its origins in Pakistan regarding

The Part-Ill of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media, Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (hereinafter referred to as IT Rules, 2021), inter alia, provide for a Code of Ethics for publishers of online curated content (OTT platforms).

2. The Code of Ethics under the Rules provides that:
*a publisher shall take into consideration the following factors, when deciding to feature or transmit or publish or exhibit any content, after duly considering the implications of any content as falling under the following categories, and shall exercise due caution and discretion in relation to the same, namely,
i. content which affects the sovereignty and integrity of India;
ii. content which threatens, endangers or jeopardises the security of the State;
iii. content which is detrimental to India's friendly relations with foreign countries;
iv. content which is likely to incite violence or disturb the maintenance of public order."

3. Further, rule 3(1)(b) of Part-ll of the IT Rules, 2021 provides that intermediaries shall make reasonable efforts by itself, and to cause the users of its computer resource to not host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, store, update or share any information that inter-alia "threatens the unity, integrity, defence, security or sovereignty of India, friendly relations with foreign States, or public order.

4. Several terrorist attacks in India have been established to have cross-border linkages with Pakistan based State and non-State actors. Recently, on 22.04.2025, the terrorist attack in Pahalgam led to the killing of several Indians, one Nepali citizen, and injuries to a number of others.

5. In the interest of national security, all OTT platforms, media streaming platforms and intermediaries operating in India are advised to discontinue the web-series, films, songs, podcasts and other streaming media content, whether made available on a subscription based model or otherwise, having its origins in Pakistan with immediate effect.

6 This issues with the approval of competent authority in the Ministry.

Ragg
(Kshitij Aggarwal)
Deputy Director

Copy to:
1. Self-Regulatory Bodies of OTT platforms
2. Association/ Bodies of OTT platforms