The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued new guidelines mandating accessibility features on OTT platforms to make digital content more inclusive for persons with hearing and visual impairments.
The guidelines, notified on February 6, 2026, aim to ensure that audio-visual content published by online curated content platforms is accessible to a wider audience and includes a defined implementation schedule.
Mandatory Accessibility Features for New Content
Under the new norms, all newly released content on OTT platforms must include:
* At least one feature for hearing-impaired viewers, such as closed captioning, open captioning, or Indian Sign Language interpretation
* At least one feature for visually impaired users, such as audio descriptions
These provisions are intended to improve the viewing experience and ensure equal access to entertainment and information.
Step Towards Inclusive Digital Ecosystem
The move is part of the government’s broader effort to promote inclusivity in the digital space by ensuring that content is accessible to persons with disabilities.
The guidelines are available on the Ministry’s official website under the Acts, Policies and Guidelines section.
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan shared the details in the Rajya Sabha in response to a query.
