The Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has extended its directive to withhold television rating points (TRPs) for news channels by another four weeks due to the ongoing West Asia conflict.
The latest order, dated March 31, 2026, asks the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to continue suspending the publication of TRPs until further directions.
This is the second such directive, following the initial order on March 6, 2026, which paused TRP reporting for four weeks.
TRPs, a measure of how many viewers are watching a TV channel or show, influence advertising revenue and competition among news channels.
The government aims to curb "unwarranted sensationalism and speculative content" by some news channels during the conflict, which could create panic among viewers.
The ongoing West Asia conflict began in late February, and the ministry has noted that the situation still largely prevails, necessitating the extension of the suspension.
