NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet today gave its approval to extend till 31 March, 2005 the deadline for conforming to the news channels' uplinking guidelines.

A government spokesperson, while briefing journalists after a cabinet meeting today, said the eligibility criteria for news channels uplinking from India needs amendments and, therefore, it would give the ministry concerned time to complete the procedure.

This deadline has been extended twice earlier. One of the issues involves formally allowing FIIs to invest in news channel ventures, which, hs been okayed in principle by the information and broadcasting ministry, according to ministry sources.