New Delhi: The government wants to strengthen the Information and Broadcasting ministry's new media wing to facilitate the flow of information on its policies and programmes through social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Monday.

In a written reply to a question, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said social media platforms are intermediaries under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and are accordingly regulated under the act and the rules framed under it.

His response came to a question on whether the government had constituted committees over the last four years to suggest a framework to keep a watch on social media.

"The government has not constituted any committee in the recent past specifically to suggest a framework to keep a watch on social media. However, an interministerial committee on 'Investment in Critical National Infrastructure, Digital Broadcasting and related issues' has been set up by the government in May 2018," Rathore said.

Asked whether the government is hiring any social media expert to monitor the social media, he said, "The government proposes to strengthen the New Media Wing of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to facilitate information flow regarding its policies and programmes through social media platforms i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube etc., which inter-alia, involves hiring of resource persons." 

To another question on whether All India Radio is planning to start programmes similar to 'Mann ki Baat' with the chief ministers of different states, Rathore said Prasar Bharati has informed that there is no such proposal under consideration as of now.

46 editions of programmes on 'Mann ki Baat' were aired during the last four years, he said.