I&B Ministry
Government extends community radio scheme with Rs 50 crore outlay till 2031
128 stations received Rs 12.31 crore since FY24 as Centre plans wider community radio expansion
New Delhi: Community radio is getting a louder voice, with the Centre tuning in for a fresh round of support. The government has extended its Supporting Community Radio Movement in India scheme for another five years, earmarking Rs 50 crore between 2026-27 and 2030-31 to strengthen existing community radio stations and encourage new ones across the country.
Responding to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs L. Murugan said the Ministry has also completed a nationwide assessment of Community Radio Stations (CRSs), examining their listenership, reach, effectiveness and financial sustainability.
The study evaluated how community radio has contributed to areas such as education, agriculture, healthcare, women’s empowerment and public awareness. According to the Ministry, the report is available on its website.
At present, India has 565 operational Community Radio Stations.
The Central Sector Scheme provides financial assistance to new and existing CRSs for purchasing or replacing broadcasting equipment, while also supporting capacity building and training for community radio operators.
The government said that between FY24 and August 2026, it released Rs 12.31 crore in financial assistance to 128 Community Radio Stations across the country.
In Bihar, four stations located in Gopalganj, Saharsa, Vaishali and Siwan received financial support during the period.
Under the existing policy, at least 50 per cent of the content broadcast by Community Radio Stations must be produced with community participation. Of that, at least half should focus on women’s empowerment and should preferably be broadcast in local languages and dialects.
The Ministry added that it continues to organise workshops, seminars and regional and national community radio gatherings to promote knowledge sharing and awareness. One such workshop was held in Patna in January 2024.
The government’s response did not announce any separate funding package specifically for Bihar’s Seemanchal region. However, it said the extended scheme aims to strengthen community broadcasting nationwide by improving resources, technology and training for both new and existing stations.
With fresh funding now approved through 2030-31, the Centre is looking to expand community radio’s role as a hyperlocal medium for public information and grassroots participation, particularly in linguistically and socially diverse regions.
