I&B Ministry
Govt. plans to simplify clearances for community radio ventures
NEW DELHI: Information and broadcasting minister Jaipal Reddy today told a parliamentary panel that the government is considering putting a time limit for clearance of community radio projects in the country.
Briefing the Consultative Committee attached to the ministry, Reddy said that his ministry proposes to ensure that there is a time-bound clearance by various government agencies and ministries for community radio services.
Pointing out that such socially relevant projects get mired in clearances, thus delaying them, Reddy said there’s only one such service operational in the country at the moment at Anna University in Chennai. The minister opined that there is scope for 4,000 community radio stations in the country.
The parliamentary panel was informed that, as on date, a total of 60 applications had been received. Out of these, 38 eligible applications had been sent to other ministries concerned for clearance while letters of intent had been signed in 26 cases and licence agreements signed in 10 cases.
Reddy’s fellow parliamentarians had expressed concerns about the funding ability of the community/organisations in far-flung and remote rural areas, since such services are run on a no-profit basis.
Consultative panel members also expressed concern over the restriction of advertisement time at the rate of four minutes per hour leave little chance of generating adequate funds to run such radio stations. Some members felt that even the original start up cost of Rs 400,000- Rs 1 million may not be possible for rural communities and the government should come out with initiatives to support such ventures.
Coming up with a pragmatic solution to the funding problems, one of the members suggested that each MP may support at least two community radio stations in his/her constituency from the fund made available by the government for spending in their respective constituencies for developmental work.
However, panel members suggested that adequate safeguards may be created to check any misuse of community radio stations.
The members who attended today’s meeting included, Dinsha Patel, film star Dharmendra, Satyanarayan Jatiya, Hannan Mollah, S Sudhakar Reddy, Usha Verma, Bhartruhari Mahtab, P K Maheshwari, Vijay J Darda, E M Sudarsana Natchiappan, Ajay Maroo, film star Shatrughan Sinha, S C Chandran and Sanjay Raut.
I&B Ministry
Akashvani opens airwaves to creative talents with fresh programme proposals
India’s public broadcaster invites creators to pitch new audio content for 2026
NEW DELHI: India’s iconic public service broadcaster, Akashvani, is tuning into a new frequency of creativity. In a move to spruce up its audio offerings, Prasar Bharati has officially invited independent producers, production houses, and content creators to pitch fresh programme proposals for the national network.
The Notice Inviting Programme Proposals (NIPP) aims to diversify the broadcaster’s “programme bouquet” by sourcing high-quality, innovative audio content from external experts. Whether you are a storyteller or a music maestro, the airwaves are officially open for business.
Akashvani is looking for a variety of audio flavours to keep listeners hooked. The wish list includes:
Radio dramas and plays: Engaging series that bring stories to life.
Audio features: Documentaries and innovative audio formats.
Digital-first content: Podcasts and modern storytelling series.
Music and knowledge: Classical, folk, and light music, alongside quiz competitions.
The programmes, which can be in Hindi, English, or various regional languages , must be delivered in “bite-sized” episodes of either 14 or 28 minutes.
Creators can choose from three distinct partnership models:
Revenue sharing mode (RSM): A collaborative approach where production costs are borne by the creator, and advertising revenue is split. If the producer handles the marketing, they keep a 70% share; if Akashvani takes the lead, the producer receives 65%.
Sponsored mode: Perfect for those with their own brand backing. Producers pay a fee and receive free commercial time to promote their sponsors.
Gratis mode: For creators looking to reach a massive audience without financial exchange.
Don’t reach for the microphone just yet. All proposals will be grilled by an Evaluation Committee based on a strict 100 point scoring matrix. Judges will be looking at creative treatment, script quality, sound design, and the “commercial potential” of the idea. Only those scoring 75 marks or higher will make the cut.
Once an agreement is signed with the Prasar Bharati head of programme , successful applicants must maintain a healthy “episode bank” to ensure the show goes on without a hitch.
Hopefuls have until 31 May 2026 to submit their ideas. Proposals should be sent via email to the respective Nodal Office or Cluster Head. All content must strictly adhere to the AIR Broadcast Code and the Commercial Advertising Code of All India Radio.
This initiative marks a significant step for Prasar Bharati as it seeks to blend traditional broadcasting with modern, regional, and innovative audio trends. For those with a story to tell or a song to share, it is time to give the public a reason to listen.
