MIB Mandates Captions, Audio Description for OTT Platforms; 3-Year Rollout

• Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) issues comprehensive guidelines for accessibility features on OTT platforms.
• New framework mandates closed captioning, audio description, and Indian Sign Language interpretation for persons with hearing and visual impairment.
• Guidelines, dated February 6, 2026, draw statutory strength from the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016.
• OTT publishers must ensure all new content within 36 months includes at least one accessibility feature for hearing and visually impaired users.
• Exemptions include live content, pure audio content, and short-form content of 10 minutes or less (excluding episodic programming).