I&B ministry directs BARC to suspend TV ratings

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has directed the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to stop publishing television ratings across news and non-news genres until it completes registration under the new Television Ratings Policy, 2026, officials said on Sunday.

The directive expands an earlier suspension of TV news ratings to all genres, effectively putting India’s television audience measurement system on hold until BARC receives approval under the new regulatory framework that came into effect in March, replacing the 2014 policy.