Lok Sabha Question No. 2255 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-23
Subject: News Programme in Sanskrit Language
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Supriya Sadanand Sule, Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, DNV Senthilkumar. S., Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Manickam Tagore B

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2255

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.09.2020)

## NEWS PROGRAMME IN SANSKRIT LANGUAGE

2255.

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE:

DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR S.:

DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA:

SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B.:

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

- (a) whether All India Radio (AIR) news  channel has started broadcasting its first ever news programme in Sanskrit language, if so, the details thereof and the objective behind the move along with the days and duration of the programme;
- (b) whether  DD  News  has  completed  five  years  of  continuous telecast of Sanskrit News Magazine successfully and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  air  and  telecast  more Sanskrit programmes and if so, the details thereof and the time by which the said decision is likely to be taken;
- (d) whether  the  time  slots  alloted  for  regional  news  bulletins  on Akashvani and Doordarshan are comparatively for lesser duration and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the details of various steps taken/being taken by the Government  to  increase  the  duration  of  news  bulletins  in regional languages and improving the same?

## 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)   Yes Sir.   Prasar Bharati has started a 20 minutes Sanskrit weekly news  programme  'Saapthiki'  on  All  India  Radio  from  July  04,  2020, broadcast on every Saturday at 11.20 AM with a repeat broadcast on Sunday at the same time.

The  programme  explains  the  human  values  enshrined  in  Sanskrit literature, philosophy, history, art, culture and tradition. It also carries elements from prominent developments of the week.

b)  Yes Sir.  The Sanskrit News Magazine 'Vaartavali' started on June 28, 2015 has successfully completed five years of continuous telecast on DD News.

- c)   No, Sir.

(d) & (e): Prasar Bharati is currently broadcasting News bulletins in 77 regional languages/local dialects on its All India Radio (AIR) network. A  dedicated  24x7  multilingual  Radio  News  Service  has  also  been launched in Digital Radio DRM, DTH Satellite and Internet modes.

Further, Regional News  bulletins are being telecast on various Regional Language Satellite Service (RLSS) Doordarshan Channels.  News operations have been made automated at major DD Regional Kendras and news sets in studios have been revamped for enhancing look and feel of news telecast. The time slots for regional news bulletins and news programmes have been adequately allocated, and are periodically reviewed.  Time slots have been increased for News bulletins and current affairs programmes in various regional DD channels in recent past. The  improvement  in  news  bulletins including in  Regional  News bulletins is a continuous process. All News Units of AIR and DD have been provided dedicated Digital Channels on platforms like YouTube to upload all bulletins and discussion programs in various languages. The NewsOnAir Digital Platform of Prasar Bharati available on Android and iOS  aggregates  these  news  bulletins  by  language  from  across  all regions.  Language  specific  news  websites  are  also  available  via newsonair.com

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