I&B Ministry
Expenditure on broadcasting by MIB up by almost Rs 400 crore between 2012 and 2015
New Delhi: Broadcasting has occupied the largest chunk of the plan and non-plan expenditure of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry between 2012 and 2015. An analysis of the ministry’s expenditure shows that the Information sector came next with a slice that is far less than the expenses for the broadcasting sector.
And though films are probably the highest taxed sector, it got a slice of less than half of that for the Information Sector. Expenditure on Secretarial services is minuscule in comparison to the overall budget for each year.
The analysis also shows that the expenditure for broadcasting has been going up year on year, going up by almost Rs 400 crore between 2012-12 and 2014-15.
The total expenditure on broadcasting in three years was Rs 6693.68 crore, while the expenditure on the three other sectors of the Ministry together for these years was less than one-third of this at Rs 1918.63 crore.
Of the total expenditure of Rs 3158.53 crore in 2014-15, the expenditure on broadcasting was Rs 2467.4 crore, followed by the Information sector with Rs 466.4 crore, the film sector with Rs 176.33 crore, and Secretariat with Rs 48.4 crore.
In 2013-14 out of the total expenditure of Rs 2828.52 crore, a sum of Rs 2157.19 crore was spent on broadcasting, followed by the Information sector with Rs 474.73 crore, film sector with 154.29 crore, and Secretarial expenses at Rs 42.31 crore.
The total expenditure in 2012-13 was Rs 2625.26 crore. Of this, the expenditure on broadcasting was Rs 2069.09 crore, followed by Information with Rs 381.22 crore, films with Rs 133.02 crore and Secretariat with Rs 41.93 crore.
I&B Ministry
Digital radio, D2M tech set to reshape broadcasting and public messaging
Govt pushes next-gen delivery while TRAI tightens grip on spam ecosystem
NEW DELHI: India’s broadcasting and telecom landscape is undergoing a quiet but significant upgrade, with digital radio and Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) technologies emerging as powerful tools for mass communication, while regulators step up efforts to tackle spam calls.
According to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, digital radio and D2M are poised to transform how content reaches audiences by making more efficient use of spectrum. In simple terms, multiple channels can now be delivered over a single frequency, opening the door to a wider range of free-to-air content.
D2M technology takes this a step further by enabling video, audio and data to be broadcast directly to mobile handsets without relying on SIM cards or mobile data. The result is a resilient and cost-effective data pipe that can deliver everything from entertainment and education to critical emergency alerts, even in low-connectivity scenarios.
At the same time, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is tightening its grip on unsolicited commercial communication, better known as spam calls. The regulator has deployed a distributed ledger technology platform to bring transparency and accountability into the system.
Through this blockchain-based setup, consumers can register their preferences on receiving promotional messages, while businesses and telemarketers must also sign up and operate within defined rules. The platform also includes a complaint mechanism that allows users to report spam, with complaints shared across telecom operators for coordinated action.
The government’s broader push is being supported by infrastructure upgrades under the Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development scheme. Implemented through Prasar Bharati, the initiative focuses on modernising networks such as Akashvani and Doordarshan, including digitisation and adoption of next-generation broadcast equipment.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting minister of state for information and broadcasting L. Murugan said these steps are part of a larger effort to promote emerging technologies and strengthen the country’s broadcasting backbone. The response came to a query raised by member of Parliament Rao Rajendra Singh.
Together, these developments point to a dual-track strategy: expanding access to reliable, low-cost content while cleaning up the communication ecosystem. As digital pipes get smarter and spam filters sharper, India’s airwaves may soon feel a lot less noisy and far more useful.
