Key Appointment
- Prasoon Joshi, renowned lyricist and writer, appointed as Chairman of Prasar Bharati
- This marks a key leadership change in India's public broadcasting domain
About Prasar Bharati
Establishment and Legal Framework
- Statutory autonomous public service broadcaster
- Established under the Prasar Bharati Act, 1990
- Became operational in 1997
- Functions under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Components
Prasar Bharati comprises two major broadcasting entities:
- Akashvani (All India Radio)
- One of the world's largest radio networks
- Extensive reach across India
- Doordarshan
- India's national television broadcaster
- Multiple regional and national channels
Mandate and Functions
- Primary mandate: National public broadcasting organization
- Core objectives:
- Providing information services
- Education through broadcasting
- Entertainment content
- Operates as a public service broadcaster with autonomous functioning
Recent Initiatives
- Launched Waves OTT platform for strengthening free-to-air OTT services
- Aligned with the spirit of public broadcasting principles
Constitutional and Legal Context
- Prasar Bharati Act, 1990 provides the statutory framework
- Ensures independence of public broadcasting from government control
- Balances public interest with broadcasting freedom
- Reflects India's commitment to public service broadcasting
Significance for India
- Strengthens public broadcasting ecosystem
- Brings creative expertise to public service media leadership
- Continues the legacy of government-appointed chairpersons for public broadcasters
- Important for information dissemination and nation-building