The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is in the process of formulating a new scheme to promote indigenous manufacturing of equipment in India’s media and entertainment sector, in line with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.
“ln pursuance of the government's objective to formulate an incentive scheme for the media and entertainment sector, the draft inputs and a detailed questionnaire have been prepared to seek views and suggestions from relevant stakeholders on various aspects of the proposed incentive scheme, including interalia issues relating to disability factors, import dependency, leasibility of indigenous manufacturing, and the overall criticality of the M&E sector,” the ministry said in its notification.
Currently, the broadcasting and media ecosystem in the country is heavily dependent on imported equipment, leading to significant foreign exchange outflow and limited self-reliance, the ministry said in its draft that e4m has accessed.
It said that this dependence has also raised concerns around national security, data sovereignty and long-term sustainability of the sector.
Recognising these challenges, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had earlier recommended the introduction of incentives for broadcast equipment manufacturers along with supportive measures to encourage local production.
Building on these recommendations, the ministry said it aims to design a comprehensive incentive framework to strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities in the media and entertainment sector.
As part of this process, the ministry has announced a stakeholder consultation meeting to be held on 19 January 2026 with an objective to gather inputs from industry stakeholders on the need, scope, challenges and potential of indigenous manufacturing of media and entertainment equipment in India.
Stakeholders have been asked to submit their detailed inputs by 15th January, which will be used to shape the proposed incentive scheme.
One of the key focus areas of the consultation is the discussion around challenges in promoting indigenous manufacturing.
These include the sector’s heavy reliance on imported equipment, inadequate investment in research and development, absence of a strong local components ecosystem, shortage of skilled manpower, high initial production costs, intense competition from established global manufacturers and a complex regulatory and certification environment that makes local manufacturing difficult.
The ministry has also sought inputs on specific “disability factors” that hinder indigenous manufacturing.
Stakeholders are expected to share industry-specific barriers, such as the percentage of critical equipment currently being imported, the main categories of imported equipment and components, and the volume and value of these imports, including HSN code-wise details.
Companies are also being asked to provide information on their current R&D investments and identify key technologies that require greater local research and development, including production, post-production, distribution and transmission equipment, set-top boxes, conditional access systems, and broadcasting infrastructure.
Another important area of discussion is the lack of a robust local component ecosystem. Stakeholders are being asked to highlight difficulties in sourcing key components domestically, identify components that are particularly hard to obtain locally, and suggest measures the government could take to encourage component manufacturing within the country. Issues related to skill gaps in advanced manufacturing and R&D are also being examined, along with the adequacy of existing education and training programmes to meet the future needs of the industry.
Cost competitiveness remains a major concern for local manufacturers. The ministry has sought inputs on how higher production costs in India impact competitiveness against foreign manufacturers and what kind of support mechanisms are required to improve the cost-effectiveness of indigenous production. Regulatory and certification challenges are another critical area, with stakeholders being asked to point out specific regulations that make local manufacturing difficult and recommend ways in which government processes can be streamlined.
The consultation will also focus on the critical importance of the media and entertainment sector to the country. Stakeholders are expected to outline the role their organisations play in the M&E value chain and assess the sector’s contribution to economic growth, national security, digital infrastructure, and job creation. The ministry has highlighted the sector’s close link with the telecom ecosystem and its relevance to public safety, especially during disaster management and emergency communications.
National security and data sovereignty form a significant part of the discussion, particularly in the context of heavy reliance on imported broadcasting technologies. Stakeholders are being asked to assess how foreign dependence impacts security and whether developing indigenous technologies would enhance data protection, resilience, and strategic autonomy in broadcasting operations.
The impact of import dependency on the growth of the Indian media and entertainment industry is another area under review. Stakeholders are expected to identify how imports limit growth and innovation and highlight key areas where indigenous manufacturing could accelerate industry expansion and technological advancement.
Employment generation and long-term ecosystem development are also central to the proposed scheme. The ministry has sought projections on potential direct and indirect job creation if indigenous manufacturing is incentivised, spanning research and development, manufacturing, distribution, and allied services. Inputs are also being requested on skill development initiatives, capacity building, and opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises and startups within the M&E manufacturing ecosystem.
In addition, the consultation aims to explore industry collaboration and supply chain development. Stakeholders are being asked to suggest ways to incentivise MSMEs and startups to enter the M&E equipment manufacturing space, identify challenges faced by smaller players, and recommend policy interventions to address these barriers. The role of the government in ensuring a stable domestic supply chain for critical components is also being examined.
According to the ministry, the inputs received from stakeholders will play a crucial role in helping the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and BECIL design a well-targeted and effective incentive scheme.