I&B Ministry
AI as a tool, not a voice: I&B Ministry marks World Radio Day 2026
Global theme highlights AI as a tool while preserving trust in the human voice
NEW DELHI: Radio, that quiet companion in kitchens, taxis and farm fields, is getting its annual moment in the sun. World Radio Day, marked every 13 February, returns in 2026 with a timely theme: “Radio and Artificial Intelligence: AI is a tool, not a voice.”
The message is simple. Technology may sharpen the tools, but it should never replace the people behind the microphone. In an era where algorithms can write scripts and generate voices, the theme reminds broadcasters that credibility, empathy and editorial judgement still belong to humans.
The day itself commemorates the launch of United Nations Radio in 1946, an early step towards global communication after the second world war. Unesco declared the observance in 2011, and the United Nations General Assembly gave it official recognition a year later.
In India, radio’s reach remains vast and varied. All India Radio, better known as Akashvani, continues to serve as the country’s public service broadcaster. Established in 1936 and later brought under public ownership, it now operates one of the world’s largest broadcasting networks.
AIR runs 591 centres across the country, covering nearly 92 per cent of India’s land area and more than 99 per cent of its population. Its programming is produced in 23 languages and 182 dialects, reaching audiences in big cities, remote villages and border regions alike.
From news and agriculture to health, music and youth shows, the station’s schedule reflects everyday India. In times of crisis, radio often becomes the most reliable voice in the room. During cyclones, fishermen along the coasts of Odisha and Tamil Nadu rely on AIR weather bulletins before setting out to sea. When schools shut during the pandemic in parts of Bihar, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh, students tuned in to educational broadcasts to keep learning.
Public radio is only part of the story. Private FM has added colour, humour and hyperlocal content to urban and regional airwaves. In August 2024, the Union Cabinet approved the rollout of 730 new FM channels across 234 previously uncovered towns and cities, a move expected to boost local programming and create jobs.
Community radio, often described as the third tier of broadcasting, continues to amplify grassroots voices. India now hosts 528 community radio stations, run by educational institutions, non profits and local groups.
These low power stations focus on local needs, from farming advice and health tips to folk music and cultural storytelling. In places such as Bundelkhand, women led stations have become platforms for discussions on education, welfare schemes and agriculture. In Kutch, community radio keeps the Kutchi dialect alive through songs and oral histories.
Even unusual spaces have found a voice. In Tihar Jail, inmates produce programmes on mental health, music and legal awareness, using radio as a tool for expression and rehabilitation.
The Indian Army has also tapped into radio’s reach in remote areas. In June 2025, it launched Ibex Tarana 88.4 FM in Jyotirmath, Uttarakhand, to share information on education, health and disaster preparedness. In January 2026, Radio Sangam 88.8 FM went live in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir, becoming the first community station along the Line of Control and offering verified local information.
To celebrate the occasion, All India Radio in Raipur is hosting a World Radio Day Conclave on 13 February 2026 in collaboration with Unesco. The event will focus on how AI can assist in content creation, translation, archiving and audience engagement while keeping the human voice at the centre of broadcasting.
Radio’s strength lies in its simplicity. It does not demand screens, data packs or literacy. It slips into daily routines and keeps company with listeners on the move. In cities like Delhi and Mumbai, cab drivers still tune in for traffic updates, cricket commentary and the day’s hit songs.
Prime minister Narendra Modi’s monthly programme Mann Ki Baat, first aired in October 2014, is another reminder of radio’s enduring pull. With more than 130 editions, it continues to reach millions across the country, both on air and online.
Radio’s emotional pull is best captured by the story of Ram Singh Bouddh from Amroha in Uttar Pradesh. Known as the “Radio Man of India”, he was recognised by Guinness World Records in 2025 for owning the world’s largest collection of radios, a staggering 1,257 sets.
His collection, housed in a small museum at Siddharth Inter College, charts the journey of radio technology from bulky wooden receivers to pocket sized transistors. What began as a hobby has become a living archive for students and visitors alike.
As digital platforms multiply, radio continues to hold its ground as a trusted, accessible and inclusive medium. It reaches those beyond the internet’s edge, carries vital information during disasters and gives communities a voice of their own.
World Radio Day 2026 does not just celebrate technology. It celebrates a human connection, carried on invisible waves, where the voice still matters more than the machine.
I&B Ministry
Prasar Bharati sets EPG standards for DD Free Dish platform
New specs define 7-day guide, LCN mapping, and device compatibility.
MUMBAI: Your TV guide just got a backstage pass structured, scheduled, and far more in sync. Prasar Bharati has released detailed technical specifications for Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) services on DD Free Dish, laying down a standardised framework for how channels and programme information are organised and delivered. At the core of the update is a defined EPG data structure, covering genre-based categorisation, scheduling formats, and Logical Channel Numbering (LCN). The aim is simple: make navigation less guesswork and more guided experience across the platform’s over 40 million households.
The specifications also introduce a seven-day programme guide window for each channel, alongside clear rules for channel grouping and LCN mapping effectively deciding not just what you watch, but how easily you find it.
On the technical front, the document outlines requirements for Program Specific Information (PSI) and Service Information (SI), including descriptor usage across tables such as PAT, BAT and NIT. It further details service lists and network linkage parameters, giving OEMs and developers a clearer blueprint for integration.
Importantly, the framework is designed to work seamlessly with television sets equipped with in-built satellite tuners, enabling users to access DD Free Dish directly without additional hardware, an incremental but meaningful step towards simplifying access.
The platform will continue to operate on GSAT-15 transponders, using MPEG-4 compression and DVB-S2 transmission standards, ensuring continuity even as the interface evolves.
While largely technical, the move signals a broader push towards standardisation and user-friendly discovery in India’s free-to-air ecosystem because sometimes, the real upgrade isn’t what’s on screen, but how easily you get there.
