The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has advised over-the-top (OTT) platforms to strictly adhere to and comply with the Information Technology (IT) Rules 2021.The government has warned the OTT platforms to ensure critical self-regulation, as well as implement "access control for 'A' rated content" to avoid children consuming inappropriate content.“The Code of Ethics, inter-alia, requires OTT platforms not to transmit any content which is prohibited by law, undertake age-based classification of content, based on general guidelines provided in the Schedule to the Rules, implementation of access control mechanism for ‘A’ rated content to restrict access to such content by a child, and also exercise due caution and discretion.”The ministry issued the notification following controversy over 'obscene' remarks made by YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia during an episode of Samay Raina’s show 'India's Got Latent'. The episode has now been removed from Raina’s channel along with other episodes.The notification said it had received complaints about the "spread of obscene, pornographic, and vulgar content by certain publishers of online curated content (OTT platforms) and social media".The government has said that the law requires OTT platforms to "not transmit any content which is prohibited by law (and) undertake age-based classification of content"."Further, the Rules provide that self-regulatory bodies of OTT platforms shall oversee and ensure alignment and adherence by the OTT platforms to the Code of Ethics," the notification said.Dismayed at the obscene content being freely peddled on social media, SC earlier this week had indicated the need to regulate such vulgar online content.A bench headed by justice Surya Kant had called for the Centre's views on the issue and sought the assistance of attorney general R Venkataramani and solicitor general Tushar Mehta on the next hearing.The bench had orally observed that it would be "very happy" if the government did something in this regard on its own. In case the government doesn't, justice Kant made it clear that the top court would "not overlook the importance and sensitivity" of the issue. SC had added that it would not let go of the issue and "would like to do something" to tackle the "vacuum" in regulation of online content.