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Technology, Communication & Related Regulatory Updates – March 2025

 Competition Commission of India probes industry bodies for possible ad cartelisation

The Competition Commission of India is probing industry bodies Indian Society of Advertisers (ISA), Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI), and Indian Broadcasting & Digital Foundation (IBDF) for potential cartelisation in the advertising sector. Triggered by complaints, the investigation examines their guidelines and advisories, including alleged restrictive agreements and coordinated enforcement actions.
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CCI Clears Epic Concesiones' Acquisition Of Road Assets

The CCI has approved Epic Concesiones’ acquisition of certain road assets. This approval is part of a series of clearances for multiple highway transactions, including deals involving Ashoka Buildcon and Cube Highways.
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CCI's jurisdiction in Meta case under NCLAT scrutiny, data rules in focus

The NCLAT has postponed the hearing on the CCI’s case against WhatsApp’s 2021 Privacy Policy due to the impending Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules. The tribunal aims to determine whether the CCI’s jurisdiction overlaps with the forthcoming data protection regulations, Legal experts suggest that the upcoming DPDP rules could significantly influence NCLAT’s decision regarding the penalties and restrictions on data sharing between WhatsApp and Meta. The tribunal has scheduled the next hearing for May 13, 2025.
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CCI dismisses allegations of anti-competitive practices against GMR Airports

The CCI has dismissed allegations of anti-competitive practices against GMR Airports and Delhi Airport with respect to the awarding of certain contracts. It was alleged by an NGO that GMR Airports was engaged in monopolistic practices and charging excessive fees for contracts related to parking and lounge services at the IGIA. The CCI said the contracts for parking and lounge services were awarded through a competitive bidding process, as mandated under the Operation, Management, and Development Agreement (OMDA).
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Delhi HC Orders Stay on GST Demand against CCI on Considerations Received from Disputing Parties

The Delhi High Court has issued an interim stay on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) demand imposed on the CCI concerning fees received from disputing parties. The CCI argued similar to the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), it should be exempt from paying GST on such fees. The court’s decision prevents authorities from enforcing any tax liability on the CCI until the case is resolved.
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CCI Approves Tata Sons’ Plan to Acquire Additional 10% Stake in Tata Play

The CCI has granted Tata Sons the approval to boost its stake in Tata Play by 10%, it from Investments (Mauritius) Pte Ltd. This decision strengthens Tata Play’s market position in India’s digital entertainment sector, where it provides Pay TV.
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CCI Approves Acquisition of O2 Power Midco Holdings and O2 Energy SG

The CCI has granted approval for JSW Neo Energy Limited to 100% shareholding of O2 Power Midco Holdings Ltd. and O2 Energy SG Pte. Ltd. A wholly owned subsidiary of JSW Energy Limited (JEL), which is a publicly listed entity under the JSW Group. Engaged in power generation and transmission, covering both conventional and renewable energy sources. Target Companies – O2 Power Midco Holdings & O2 Energy SG.
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 Govt to bring Digital Competition Bill after due process: Harsh Malhotra

Minister of State for Corporate Affairs stated that the government is taking a deliberate approach to introducing the Digital Competition Bill, emphasizing the need for thorough deliberation and study of international best practices. Malhotra highlighted the importance of fair competition for the country’s economic future and advocated for a balance between strict enforcement and promoting self-regulation.
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Government Reviews Feedback on Draft Digital Competition Bill

The Indian government is currently reviewing stakeholder feedback on the Draft Digital Competition Bill (DCB), which aims to regulate anti-competitive practices in the digital economy. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) is assessing inputs received during the consultation period from March 12 to May 15, 2024.
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ADIF urges swift implementation of digital competition Bill to safeguard Indian start-ups

The Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF) has called for the prompt enactment of the Digital Competition Bill to protect Indian start-ups from anti-competitive practices by large digital corporations. ADIF emphasized that the bill is essential to ensure a fair and competitive digital market, preventing monopolistic behaviors that could hinder the growth of emerging businesses.
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PIB unit identified over 1,500 cases of ‘fake news’ about Modi govt since 2022: I&B ministry

The Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check Unit (FCU), established in November 2019, has identified over 1,500 instances of ‘fake news’ related to the Modi government since 2022, according to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The FCU addresses misinformation about government policies, initiatives, and schemes, acting both proactively and in response to public queries.
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Parliamentary panel seeks government action against obscene and pornographic content on OTT platforms

A Parliamentary Standing Committee has urged the Indian government to take decisive action against obscene and pornographic content on over-the-top (OTT) platforms. The committee emphasized the need for stringent regulations to prevent the proliferation of such material, expressing concerns about its potential negative impact on society. This call aligns with ongoing discussions about regulating digital content to ensure it adheres to cultural and moral standards.
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India Pavilion Makes Debut at Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco

The Press Information Bureau (PIB) recently announced India’s inaugural participation in the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2025, held in San Francisco. The India Pavilion the nation’s advancements in game development, highlighting the burgeoning talent and innovation within the Indian gaming industry.
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CBFC orders modification of film ‘Empuraan,’ directing 24 changes before release

L2:Empuraan movie has been subject to backlash over its depiction of the 2002 Gujrat riots. The director recalled the film and consulted with the CBFC, whereby 24 cuts were suggested. A total of 2 minutes and 8 seconds have been excluded from the original film with the CBFC’s recommendations, along with the name of the antagonist being changed from Baba Bajrangi to Baldev.The film was originally released on 27th March, 2025 and subsequently brought back for screening the following week.
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UK Oscar nominated film Santosh faces pushback on approval from CBFC

UK Oscar nominated film Santosh, has been barred from release in India, with the CBFC citing concern that the film’s content would cause unrest due to its portrayal of misogyny, Islamophobia and violence in the Indian police force.
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WAVES Anti-Piracy Challenge

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, in collaboration with CII, launched the WAVES Anti-Piracy Challenge under the Create in India initiative to develop fingerprinting and watermarking technologies against digital content piracy. This initiative aims to strengthen India’s role in digital content security and media innovation.
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COAI supports convergence of MeitY, DoT and MIB under one roof

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has expressed support for integrating the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) into a single entity. COAI believes this consolidation would streamline policy-making and regulatory processes, fostering a more cohesive digital ecosystem in India.
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IndiaAI Mission: MeitY invites firms to contribute datasets for AIKosh

The MeitY is inviting private companies and startups to contribute datasets to AIKosh, an initiative under the IndiaAI Mission aimed at expanding India’s AI research ecosystem. This effort seeks to enhance AI development by leveraging diverse datasets from the private sector.
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IT Ministry Releases Draft Guidelines For Mobile Security And Data Anonymization

In August 2022, MeitY released draft guidelines on data anonymization and mobile security for public consultation. These guidelines provide recommendations for stakeholders involved in processing personal data within e-governance projects, aiming to establish best practices for handling data from initiatives like the National Health Mission and Smart Cities.
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 Delhi High Court directs MeitY Panel to prepare a report on Deepfakes

The Delhi High Court has directed a sub-committee of the MeitY to submit a comprehensive report on deepfakes by July 21, 2025. This directive was issued during hearings on petitions addressing the lack of regulation concerning deepfake technology and its potential misuse. The court emphasized that the committee should consider suggestions from the petitioners while formulating its recommendations.
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Infibeam avenues targets government AI initiatives with MeitY proposal

Infibeam Avenues, a publicly listed fintech company, is collaborating with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru to submit a proposal for MeitY AI Foundational Model Initiative. Through its AI division, Phronetic.AI, Infibeam has developed an advanced foundational AI model with multi-modal reasoning capabilities, comparable to China’s DeepSeek R1. This initiative is part of MeitY’s IndiaAI Mission, which, as of February 15, 2025, has received 67 proposals aimed at developing indigenous AI models tailored to Indian datasets.
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MEITY’s Rs 42 Cr agri-tech initiative finds home in SKUAST-K

The MeitY has launched a ₹42 crore agri-tech initiative at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir (SKUAST-K). This program aims to provide a dynamic platform for students and researchers to innovate, leveraging expertise and cutting-edge facilities.
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Govt ‘in touch with’ X over Grok’s responses

The MeitY is engaging with X (formerly Twitter) to address concerns regarding its AI chatbot, Grok, generating profanity-laden responses in Indian languages, including transliterated Hindi. Officials aim to determine the source of these responses and assess responsibility among users, the chatbot’s creators (xAI), or the platform (X). While no formal notice has been issued, MeitY is exploring potential actions, including content blocking under Section 69A, if the issue persists.
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I-T Rules Amended: How Safe Harbour Law Expansion Benefits India’s EV Industry

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) issued Notification No. 21/2025, expanding safe harbour provisions under the Income-tax Rules, 1962, for Assessment Years 2025-26 and 2026-27. The amendments include the classification of lithium-ion batteries as core auto components, the EV industry, and raising the safe harbour threshold from ₹200 crore to ₹300 crore. These changes aim to enhance tax certainty, reduce transfer pricing disputes, and promote sustainable investments.
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Govt Strengthens Grip on Online Gaming Addiction and Obscene Content

The Indian government is intensifying efforts to combat online gaming addiction and the dissemination of obscene content. The Information Technology Rules, 2021 outline strict penalties for violations, empowering authorities to take decisive action against platforms hosting such content. Additionally, the Karnataka government has inaugurated India’s first digital detox center to address screen addiction.
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NASSCOM raises concerns over cross-border data transfer restrictions in draft DPDP Rules

The National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) has expressed concerns regarding the draft Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules, particularly about restrictions on cross-border data transfers. In a submission to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on March 5, 2025, NASSCOM warned that such limitations could discourage investment, impact global competitiveness, and increase compliance costs for companies >operating across jurisdictions.
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 IAMAI urges MeitY for 24-month implementation period of DPDPA Rules

The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) has raised concerns that the compliance framework of the draft Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rule demands significant technical and financial resources, which can hinder the growth of startups and MSMEs in the country. In its recommendations to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) has also highlighted that the Act could hinder the startups and MSMEs because of the financial and technical burden.
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