I&B Ministry
Only 180 community radio stations despite financial aid by govt
NEW DELHI: Despite the scheme being almost a decade old and the government extending financial assistance, the total number of operational community radio stations (CRS) in the country is just 180.
This is despite the fact that the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has issued around 410 permissions to set up community radio stations in the country. In addition to other assistance, the Government has even set up a fund for helping CRS.
A Parliamentary Committee noted recently that 209 applications for setting up of community radio stations were pending with various Ministries. Even though the number of applications pending in the Ministries concerned has come down substantially, there are at least 50 applications that are pending, which have crossed the stipulated timeline beyond three months.
Though the scheme was launched around a decade earlier, the outreach of the CRS was enhanced in 2006 to include non Governmental and Community based organisations with at least three years of legal existence.
Earlier this year, Parliament was informed that only 76 letters of intent (LOI) had been issued out of the 689 applications from educational institutions, registered societies, trusts and NGOs etc received since 1 January, 2012 for setting up community radio stations.
As many as 285 applications had been returned or rejected, while 263 had been referred back to the applicants.
According to the list placed on the Ministry’s website as on 1 May, 2015, the largest number of community radio stations – around 90 – are being operated by private and governmental educational institutions, around 65 by non-governmental organisations, around 20 by universities including six by state agricultural universities, and six by Kendriya Vidyalya Kendras.
Tamil Nadu has the largest number of CRS numbering around 27, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 21, Maharashtra with 17, Madhya Pradesh with 14, and Karnataka with 13. All other States and Union Territories have 10 or less CRs with Delhi having six.
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.
