News Excerpt:

The Central Bureau of Communication recently announced the Digital Advertisement Policy of 2023.

The Digital Advertisement Policy of 2023 

• It is released by the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC).
• It lays down the requirements for empanelling websites, mobile applications, digital audio platforms, streaming platforms and social media platforms so that they can display government advertisements.
• This policy is valid for 5 years.
• It replaces 2016’s Policy Guidelines for Empanelment and Rate Fixation for Central Government Advertisements on Websites.

The new policy allows for the empanelment of five kinds of entities:

1. Internet websites and mobile apps (news websites and apps, travel websites, etc.);
2. Over-the-top (OTT) video on demand platforms (such as Disney+Hotstar);
3. Digital audio platforms (such as Spotify);
4. Social media platforms (such as Facebook, Twitter); and
5. Media agencies for digital campaigns.

Any “innovative and futuristic platforms” can be onboarded by the CBC with the approval of a six-member committee that will be headed by the director general or the principal director general of the CBC.

• For empanelment with the CBC, websites and mobile applications have been classified into four categories:
  • more than 20 million unique users (A+),
  • between 10 and 20 million unique users (A),
  • 5-10 million unique users (B) and
  • 25-5 million unique users (C)

• OTT platforms have been classified into two categories:
  • More than 2.5 million unique users in category A and
  • 5 to 2.5 million unique users in category B.

• Podcasters or digital audio platforms should have a minimum of five lakh unique users to be eligible for empanelment with the CBC. Such platforms have been classified as 'A' which has more than 2.5 million unique users and 'B' with unique users between 0.5-2.5 million.

Any “innovative and futuristic platforms” can be onboarded by the CBC with the approval of a six-member committee that will be headed by the director general or the principal director general of the CBC.

Mains PYQ

Q. How have digital initiatives in India contributed to the functioning of the education system in the country? Elaborate your answer

     (UPSC 2020)