Akashvani: History, Role, and Key Features of All India Radio
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Why in News
- **Akashvani** recently inaugurated the **Swar Prerna Veethika** gallery as part of its **90-year celebrations** ahead of the radio broadcasting centenary in **2027**.
What is Akashvani?
- **Akashvani**, officially known as **All India Radio**, serves as India's premier national public radio broadcaster.
- It operates as an autonomous wing under **Prasar Bharati** alongside **Doordarshan**, forming one of the largest public broadcasting networks globally.
Establishment of Akashvani
- The network began as the **Indian State Broadcasting Service (ISBS)** on **April 1, 1930**, and became **All India Radio** on **June 8, 1936**.
- The broadcaster officially adopted the name **Akashvani** in **1956**, taking inspiration from a **1938** poem by Nobel laureate **Rabindranath Tagore**.
History of the Broadcaster
- Private radio clubs in Mumbai and Kolkata started experimental radio transmissions in India during **June 1923**.
- The private **Indian Broadcasting Company (IBC)** formed in **1927** went bankrupt by **1930**, leading the British colonial government to create the **ISBS**.
- In **August 1935**, **BBC** producer **Lionel Fielden** became India's first Controller of Broadcasting to build a formal network structure.
- At independence in **1947**, India possessed only **6 radio stations**, covering barely **2.5%** of the land area and **11%** of the population.
- In **1952**, Information Minister **B. V. Keskar** prioritized Indian classical music, creating the annual **Akashvani Sangeet Sammelan** in **1954**.
- Based on recommendations from the **Chanda Committee** and **Verghese Committee**, Parliament passed the **Prasar Bharati Act**, which gave autonomy to **Akashvani** in **November 1997**.
Key Features of Akashvani
- Today, **Akashvani** operates **over 460 radio stations**, covering **92%** of India's land area and reaching almost the entire population.
- The network broadcasts programs in **23 official languages** and **146 native dialects** to serve diverse cultural communities.
- Its **News Services Division (NSD)** runs **46 Regional News Units** that broadcast **over 600 daily news bulletins** around the clock.
- Launched in **1957**, the **Vividh Bharati** service offers commercial music and entertainment across specialized **FM Gold** and **FM Rainbow** channels.
- The **External Services Division (ESD)** broadcasts daily in **27 languages** across **more than 100 countries**, supporting India's public diplomacy.