Lok Sabha Question No. 3992 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-19
Subject: Circulation of Radio Service
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: B. Y. Raghavendra, D.K. Suresh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3992

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2021)

CIRCULATION OF RADIO SERVICE

3992.

SHRI B.Y. RAGHAVENDRA:

SHRI D.K. SURESH:

Will  the  Minister  of  INFORMATION  AND  BROADCASTING  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that radio is a very important tool of communication and if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (b) whether the Government has taken note that radio proves to be an effective  medium to keep the language alive in the vast country like India and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  measures  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  increase  the circulation of radio services in the country?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE; MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF HEAVY  INDUSTRIES  AND  PUBLIC  ENTERPRISES  (SHRI  PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) & (b): Yes, Sir.  Radio is a powerful tool to connect to the masses. It is also a platform for linkage and exchange between policy makers, government bodies and the public. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi reaches out to the citizens of India through Mann ki Baat on All India Radio (AIR), which reaches 99.20% of population spread over 92.00% of geographical area of the country.

AIR  broadcasts  programmes  in  all  major  regional  languages  and various dialects. At present, 46 Regional News Units of AIR broadcast programmes in 23 major languages and 181 dialects.

Further, there are 386 Private FM Radio channels operating from 111 cities in the country spread across 26 States and 4 Union Territories, under  the  Private  FM  Radio  Phase  III  Policy.    Private  FM  Radio promotes  local  language  by  the  radio  jockeys  speaking  in  the  local language and dialects of that city and also promotes local content.

Community Radio is the third tier in radio broadcasting, distinct from public service and commercial media, providing a platform to air local voices  among  the  local  community  on  issues  concerning  their  lives. Community Radio Station (CRS) is essentially low power radio station meant to be set up and operated by the local communities to focus on local  issues  concerning  health,  nutrition,  education,  agriculture  etc. Thus, the Community Radio is a very important tool of communication for broadcasting programmes in local language and dialects, especially  for  those  areas  where  presence  of  mainstream  media  is limited.

(c)  The Government has taken various measures to increase the reach of radio services in the country.  All AIR services have an active social media  presence.    Content  broadcast  on  AIR  services  is  also  being made available for on-demand listening through YouTube.  For the first time,  Visual  Radio  programming  has  been  introduced  where  Radio Programs such as Live Commentary are also being live streamed with a camera in the studio so that the faces behind the voices can be seen and experienced. More than 40 AIR Services have been made available via  Satellite  Radio  on  'DD  Free  Dish'  DTH  platform.  Also,  200  AIR Services are being live streamed  through 'NewsOnAir'  App  for listening anywhere in the world.  Further Digital Radio standards are being  evaluated  to  enhance  the  technology  and  to  increase  the capacity for multiple services.

The Private FM Radio Phase-III Policy provides for radio coverage in all cities  with  population  above  1  lakh,  unless  getting  covered  from  a neighbouring city.  In addition, 11 cities in border areas of North East States and Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh having population of less than 1 lakh have also been included.  The Phase-III policy  provides  for  conducting  e-auctions  in  batches  for  granting permission  to  private  agencies.    Government  has  conducted  two batches  of  e-auctions  wherein  163  FM  Radio  Channels  have  been awarded.

Setting up of Community Radio Stations (CRS) is a voluntary effort, by voluntary  organizations,  educational  institutions,  State  Agricultural Universities  and  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras.  The  Government,  has  also taken measures to increase Community Radio service in the country by conducting awareness workshops, from time to time, to encourage eligible  organizations for setting up of CRS, especially in  Community Radio dark areas; and engagement with Coastal States/UTs, Aspirational  Districts  and  National  Disaster  Management  Authority (NDMA) to identify and persuade eligible organizations for setting up of CRS, especially in those areas where no CRS is presently operational. **********************