- Why in news
- On 6 April 2026, TRAI released a Consultation Paper on a regulatory framework for Application-based Linear Television Distribution (ALTD) services, including FAST services. It follows a reference from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting dated 15 December 2025.
- What it is
- TRAI is the statutory regulator for telecom and broadcasting under the TRAI Act, 1997. ALTD services are apps that deliver linear TV channels through pre-installed, downloadable or web-based applications. FAST services are free, ad-supported streaming channels that fall in this group and currently lack a dedicated framework.
- Trigger
- MIB referred the matter to TRAI under Section 11(1)(a) of the TRAI Act, 1997, on 15 December 2025.
- ALTD defined
- ALTD covers application providers distributing linear TV channels via pre-installed apps, downloadable mobile or smart TV apps, or web-based apps.
- Scope of inputs
- The paper seeks views on authorisation terms, service provisioning, and obligations of broadcasters, content providers and aggregators placing channels on ALTD platforms.
- Deadlines
- Comments are due by 4 May 2026 and counter comments by 18 May 2026.
- TRAI's role
- TRAI was set up by the TRAI Act, 1997. Its recommendations to the government are advisory, not binding.
Don’t confuse with Recommendations vs. regulations: A TRAI consultation paper and its recommendations are advisory. Binding rules come only when the government accepts them or TRAI issues regulations.
Don’t confuse with FAST vs. OTT on-demand: FAST offers scheduled linear channels free with ads. On-demand OTT services let users pick content, often by subscription.
Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.
Why it matters
- Aims to bring parity between app-based and traditional TV distribution such as cable, DTH and IPTV.
- Seeks content accountability and consumer protection on a fast-growing streaming segment.
Problems
- Defining the line between ALTD, OTT and traditional broadcasting without overregulating.
- Enforcing obligations on platforms, including foreign ones, and on pre-installed apps on devices.
Way forward
- Use a light-touch, authorisation-based framework with clear content and consumer safeguards.
- Hold open stakeholder consultation and align the rules with broadcasting and IT laws.
Put in your answer
Regulatory parity: The MIB reference asks for a framework ensuring parity, content accountability and consumer protection for FAST services.
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UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Consultation paper for regulating app-based linear TV, sent under Section 11(1)(a) of the TRAI Act. A consultation is not a final rule, so a question is unlikely.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.