I&B Ministry
Parliamentary Committee okays MIB’s Rs 350 cr. proposal for govt campaigns
NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s (MIB) proposal to seek a revised cost estimate for additional requirement of funds to the tune of Rs 350 crore for the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP) has found favour with a Parliamentary Standing Committee.
The Committee agreed with the Ministry’s apprehension that if adequate funds are not made available under the scheme, the multimedia campaign of flagship programmes of the Government such as Make in India, Digital India, Skill India, Jan Dhan Yojana, etc. will get adversely affected.
The Committee said sustained campaign for people’s participation in the flagship programmes of the Government should not suffer due to want of funds.
It therefore wanted the Ministry to pursue with the Finance Ministry for adequate allocation under the scheme.
The MIB informed the Committee that the proposal had already been mooted and is in process.
The Committee noted with satisfaction that out of an allocation of Rs 160.20 crore, the Ministry had been able to spend Rs 147.01 crore (91.76 per cent) during 2014-15. “There has been a cent percent achievement of physical targets under Scheme of DAVP during 2014-15,” the Committee said.
The Committee was given to understand that due to total exhaustion of funds allocated for the entire 12th Plan period, the left over amount of Rs 23 crore from the original approved fund of Rs 470 crore had been allocated for the schemes of DAVP during 2015-16.
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.
