I&B Ministry
Rathore promises inquiry into AIR re-tweets on Indo-Pak match
NEW DELHI: Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore has promised to look into the case of All India Radio’s (AIR) Twitter handle on Sunday re-tweeting obnoxious anti-Pakistan tweets by some of its followers after India beat Pakistan in their opening World Cup cricket match.
In its response, the Twitter handle of News Service division of AIR has denied there was anything obnoxious in its re-tweets but said it is open to any inquiry.
AIR invited tweets wishing team India the best when the India-Pakistan World Cup match was under way in the Adelaide Oval on Sunday afternoon.
“Give your best wishes to #TeamIndia for #CricketWorldCup using #WCFirSe. Best will get re-tweet from us,” said a tweet.
“This is within the scope of Prasar Bharati. Whoever is handling the Twitter account must have done it in excitement. People tend to get excited, but a certain grace must be maintained,” Rathore said.
“India’s explosive win over Pakistan at #AdelaideOval. Hindustan decides Pakistan’s #GharWapsi #WCFirSe,” a tweet originally in Hindi, which was re-tweeted by the AIR News’ verified account @airnewsalerts read. The handle is the “Official account of News Services Division, All India Radio.”
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.
