I&B Ministry
Publication division needs to adopt new technology, e-commerce: Javadekar
NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar has asked the publication division to adapt itself through technological tools, e-commerce, business models, online publications etc.
According to the Minister, crowd sourcing has become a principal tool to involve people in bringing about change and innovation and enhancing outreach through people’s involvement.
The Minister has invited suggestions from youngsters regarding the future role of publication division in the changed scenario where it has undergone a drastic change both in content and technology.
Presenting the Bhartendu Harishchandra Awards for promotion of Hindi writers for the years 2011 and 2012, Javadekar said the growing literacy in the country was a catalyst to promote relevant contemporary writings.
The role of publication division was much more beyond mere publishing. As a Government institution the future road map lay in identifying benchmarks so as to ensure people had access to good quality publications. Literature remained the principal catalyst to promote creativity across different sections of society. This was a time tested exercise and it provided the people a sense of satisfaction across all age groups.
The Minister also called upon the publication division to explore the possibility of starting a special series/collection of prominent books/works on eminent personalities.
He also said while the prize money of Bhartendu Harishchandra Awards would be enhanced, a special category of awards to promote original writings focusing on all round development of adolescent girls would be instituted from next time. The objective of the new awards was to encourage the spirit of women empowerment from the adolescent stage of growth for girls.
The Minister also announced that the award function would be held every year on 9 September being the birth anniversary of the eminent writer. These awards were presented on the birth anniversary of renowned Hindi writer Bharatendu Harishchandra for the first time this year.
One of the key initiatives of the Ministry was to promote books and manuscripts original writing in Hindi, the Bharatendu Harishchandra Awards have been presented by the publication division annually since 1983. Bharatendu Harishchandra paved the renaissance for Hindi language and literature.
The awards were initially given in Journalism and Mass Communication. The other three categories, viz., National Integration, Women’s Issues and Children’s Literature were added in 1992. Original writing in Hindi by Indian authors is the eligibility criteria for the award.
For the year 2011, the first prize in the Journalism and Mass Communication category was awarded to Vijay Dutt Shridhar for his manuscript ‘Pehla Sampadakiya’. Harish Chandra Barnwal’s book ‘Television ki Bhasha’ has been chosen for the second prize in this category. The third prize went to Santosh Kumar Nirmal for his book ‘Filmein aur Prachar: Tab se ab tak’.
In the Women’s Issues category, the award was conferred on Gitashri for her manuscript ‘Aurat ki Boli’ while for National Integration went to Dr. Navratan Kapoor for the book “Tyoharon Tatha Melon ki Vichitratain, Jansanchar Maadhyam aur Rashtriya Ekta”.
The first prize in Children’s Literature category for the same year was given to Bano Sartaj for her book ‘Pakya aur Parichham’ and the second prize to Rajiv Saxena for ‘Professor Khurana ka Clone’.
For 2012, the first prize in Journalism and Mass Communication category was awarded to Vijaya Lakshmi Sinha’s ‘Maine Awaaz ko Dekha’, while the second and third prize was conferred on Madhav Hada for his book titled ‘Seedhiyaan Chadhta Media’ and Suresh Kumar’s ‘Online Media’ won the third prize.
In Women’s Issues category in 2012, Urmila Kumari’s book ‘Jaar Jaar Taar Taar’ was selected for the first prize while Dr. Sanjula Thanvi’s book ‘Manavaadhikar, Panchayati Raj Se Sashakt Naari’ was selected for the second prize.
In Children’s Literature category Dr. Mohammed Arshad Khan’s book ‘Mickey Mouse’ won the first Prize and the book ‘Phoolon se Pyar’ by Pavitra Agrawal received the second prize.
I&B Ministry
Prasar Bharati extends Waves OTT channel onboarding deadline to 31 March 2026
Broadcasters gain extra time for applications on revenue-sharing streaming platform.
MUMBAI: Riding the Waves of digital delay, Prasar Bharati has thrown broadcasters a lifeline by pushing back the deadline for hopping aboard its OTT platform because who doesn’t love a bit more time to stream their dreams? India’s public service broadcaster, on 19 February 2026, announced an extension to the original cut-off from 1 December 2025, giving eager satellite TV channels until 31 March 2026 to submit their bids for a spot on Waves. This follows the initial call-out dated 17 November 2025 under notice No. OTT/2(02)/2024/Platform/529, inviting licensed linear channels to join the streaming party for a one-year stint starting from their onboard date.
Only channels permitted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) for downlinking and distribution in India qualify, and applications must come straight from the companies holding those golden tickets no third-party proxies allowed. Broadcasters need to supply an SCTE-35 marker-enabled feed to signal ad breaks, ensuring the stream flows smoothly without awkward pauses.
Here’s where the money tune plays, Successful channels get carried on a revenue-sharing basis, splitting the net spoils 65:35, that’s 65 per cent to the channel and 35 per cent to Prasar Bharati after deducting costs like transcoding, CDN bandwidth, and ad agency commissions. Prasar Bharati handles ad insertions at marker points, and if slots go unfilled, they’ll plug in promos for themselves or the channels, keeping the vibe promotional yet practical.
No room for fuzzy details applicants must provide crystal-clear proof of their channel’s genre (think GEC, movies, music, news & current affairs, sports, devotional, kids, or others) and language, backed by evidence from MSO/DTH placements, regulatory nods like TRAI or MIB, DAVP docs, or even BARC ratings. Ambiguity? That’s a swift rejection slip.
Channels get ranked by their DAVP rate card prowess, with the highest bidders in each category snagging the streaming slots, it’s like a broadcast beauty contest judged on ad rates across time bands. The application drill? Fill out the prescribed form in Annexure-1, bundle it with docs from Annexure-2 (including permissions, logos, PAN, GST, undertakings, and authority letters), and email the lot to ddfreedish@prasarbharati.gov.in by 5:00 PM on 31 March 2026.
Interim submissions aren’t left in the lurch, they’ll be considered too. Winners receive a ‘Letter of Allotment’, followed by a must-sign agreement in two originals within 15 days, plus tech details for seamless integration. For the full playbook, dip into clause 11.2 of Prasar Bharati’s Content Sourcing Policy 2024 on their website.
In a world where streaming wars rage on, this extension might just be the breather broadcasters need to tune up their pitches after all, better late than never in the OTT ocean.
