I&B Ministry
Prasar launches music auditions online application, FreeDish slot auction suspended
MUMBAI: Prasar Bharati chairman A Surya Prakash has launched an online application system for music auditions across all genres for the All India Radio (AIR).
The aspirants who wanted to apply and get themselves graded would now have a better experience in terms of accessibility and availability, the release added. The AIR conducts auditions in different genres of music, including classical, light, folk, tribal and western, and award suitable grades to them.
Meanwhile, the information and broadcasting ministry has reportedly suspended auction of slots on FreeDish, and would review the channel slot auction process of the air DTH platform. The ministry has asked the pubcaster to suspend e-auctioning of slots on FreeDish until further notice, sources told Mint.
Doordarshan holds e-auction once in a couple of months to award channel slots on FreeDish to private broadcasters. The platform carries 80 channels, including private channels such as Sony Pal, Star Utsav, Zee Anmol, Rishtey and news channels — ABP News, Aaj Tak, and News 24.
I&B Ministry
MeitY & Reliance Foundation launch e-SafeHER cyber training for Women
Programme aims to train one million rural women in cyber safety over three years
NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has partnered with Reliance Foundation and C-DAC Hyderabad to launch ‘e-SafeHER’, a nationwide cyber security awareness programme aimed at empowering one million women across rural India.
Anchored under the Information Security Education and Awareness Programme, the initiative will focus on building digital confidence and safe online practices among women who are increasingly using digital platforms for financial transactions, livelihoods and essential services.
The programme will be rolled out through a community-led model, with training delivered via women’s self-help groups and grassroots networks. C-DAC Hyderabad will develop and localise training content, while Reliance Foundation will drive on-ground implementation using its rural outreach platforms.
Speaking on the launch, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology secretary S Krishnan said, “e-SafeHER is an exciting opportunity to bring together knowledge and collaboration to build a cyber secure Bharat. Through this initiative, women from even the remotest regions will be empowered to participate safely in the digital ecosystem.”
Echoing this, Reliance Foundation director Isha Ambani said the initiative aims to equip women with the skills needed to navigate the online world safely. She added that the goal is to enable one million “Cyber Sakhis” who can confidently adopt digital tools to improve their lives and livelihoods.
The programme will begin with pilot training in Madhya Pradesh and Odisha, before scaling nationwide through a phased approach. It will use multilingual content, audio-visual modules and blended learning formats to ensure accessibility and engagement.
Designed for long-term impact, e-SafeHER will be integrated into existing digital literacy and women’s empowerment programmes, avoiding the need for parallel infrastructure. The initiative also aims to drive measurable behavioural change, from improved awareness of cyber risks to safer digital transactions.
By combining policy, technology and grassroots reach, the programme looks to bridge not just the digital divide, but the digital safety gap, ensuring that inclusion goes hand in hand with security.
