I&B Ministry
Govt: 17 new FM stations in 10th Plan
NEW DELHI: The policy changes are yet to be effected, but the government today informed the Parliament that 70 new FM radio stations are proposed to be set up during the 10th Five-Year Plan, which runs till 2007.
Information and Broadcasting minister Jaipal Reddy told Rajya Sabha (Upper House) today that in addition to the 70 new FM radio stations, 150 low powered FM transmitters were also being planned in areas not covered by radio broadcast. This, however, is subject to approval and availability of resources at the disposal of the government.
Maximum number of FM stations are being sought to be
set up in the states of Uttaranchal and West Bengal where seven frequencies in each state would be made available to interested players in cities like Dehradun, Haldwani, New Tehri, Rudraprayag, Darjeeling, Purulia, Bardhman and Balurghta.
But the strongest FM transmitters of 20 KW each are being made available to the border states of Punjab and Rajasthan in cities like Amritsar, Ramgarh and Chautam Hill.
In reply to another question, Reddy said that the changes in the existing FM radio policy were being finalised, but there was no proposal to review the DTH guidelines, notified in 2001.
According to information available with the Indiantelevision.com, the government is open to a revenue sharing model to help migrate the existing FM players into a new regime.
“As per a proposal that the I&B ministry will be circulating to other ministries for feedback, it has to be seen which of the options are feasible to pave the way for the opening of the second phase of FM Radio,” a government official said last week.
The official added that the revenue shared percentage as suggested by the sector regulator (four per cent) seems to be on the lower side, which would effect government revenue collections.
I&B Ministry
India rolls out Rs 203 crore TDIP scheme to boost 6G push
Revised policy widens access for startups, boosts global telecom standards play
NEW DELHI: India is doubling down on its telecom ambitions with a revamped Technology Development and Investment Promotion scheme, designed to help the country move from participant to power player in global standards.
The Ministry of Communications on Tuesday unveiled revised guidelines for the TDIP scheme, committing Rs 203 crore for the 2026 to 2031 period. The move aims to strengthen India’s presence in international telecom forums while accelerating homegrown innovation in next-generation technologies, including 5G Advanced and 6G.
At the launch, Ministry of Communications union minister for communications and development of north eastern region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia said the updated framework is intended to give Indian players a stronger voice in shaping global telecom rules.
The scheme focuses heavily on increasing participation in key global bodies such as the International Telecommunication Union, 3GPP and oneM2M. Financial support will be provided for attending international meetings, submitting technical proposals, taking leadership roles, and even hosting global events in India.
The idea is straightforward. If India helps write the rules, its technologies stand a better chance of going global.
Beyond policy rooms and conference tables, the revised scheme casts a wider net across the ecosystem. Startups, MSMEs, academia and research institutions are now explicitly included, opening the door for broader collaboration and faster innovation cycles. Pilot projects, proof-of-concept initiatives and real-world demonstrations will also receive support, helping ideas move from lab to market.
Supporting the rollout will be institutions such as Telecommunications Standards Development Society India, Telecom Centres of Excellence India and Telecommunications Consultants India Limited. These bodies will coordinate efforts, build capacity and ensure industry participation aligns with global opportunities.
The initiative ties in with broader efforts by the Department of Telecommunications, including programmes like the Telecom Technology Development Fund and the Bharat 6G Mission, forming a more cohesive push towards future-ready networks.
Also present at the event were Ministry of Communications minister of state for communications and rural development Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani and Department of Telecommunications secretary (telecommunications) and chairman digital communications commission Amit Agrawal.
With this update, India is not just looking to keep pace with global telecom trends. It is aiming to help define them.
