I&B Ministry
Government says no editorial autonomy grievances at Prasar Bharati
MIB says seven appointment complaints received as Akashvani reaches 98 per cent population
MUMBAI: When the spotlight turns on the broadcaster, the script shifts from headlines to accountability. Facing questions on editorial independence, the Government has defended Prasar Bharati’s oversight mechanisms while highlighting its reach and ongoing reforms.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has told Parliament that no grievances or formal representations concerning the editorial autonomy, appointments or functioning of Prasar Bharati were received from journalists, employees or media bodies over the past one year, although seven complaints relating to appointments were submitted by applicants.
Responding to an Unstarred Question in the Lok Sabha on reforms to strengthen editorial independence, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Dr L. Murugan said editorial matters are regularly reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief and senior editorial teams to ensure quality, accuracy, balance and compliance with Prasar Bharati’s editorial policies and Programme Code.
The Ministry said viewer complaints and feedback, including those relating to editorial content, are forwarded to the relevant editorial teams for appropriate action under established internal procedures.
On funding and governance, the Government highlighted the Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) Scheme, a Central Sector initiative approved for 2021-26 to modernise and upgrade Prasar Bharati’s broadcasting infrastructure. The scheme has since been extended until 31 March 2027.
The Ministry added that details relating to budget allocations, actual expenditure and revenue generation are available on the Prasar Bharati website, without disclosing year-wise figures in its parliamentary response.
Highlighting the broadcaster’s footprint, the Government said Akashvani now covers about 98 per cent of India’s population and nearly 90 per cent of the country’s geographical area. It also noted that DD Free Dish is available across the country without any subscription charges, making it one of the widest-reaching television distribution platforms in India.
The Ministry further said Prasar Bharati continuously reviews viewership data, audience feedback and social media analytics to improve the quality, presentation and credibility of its news content as part of its regular editorial process.
The response came after Members of Parliament sought details on editorial complaints, audience trust, financial transparency and structural reforms at India’s public broadcaster. While the Government outlined existing review mechanisms and infrastructure initiatives, it did not disclose specific findings from audience credibility surveys or performance audits in its reply.
