Prasar Bharati is India's largest public service broadcaster. It was established in 1997 through the Prasar Bharati Act to make All India Radio and Doordarshan autonomous from the government. Prasar Bharati aims to uphold constitutional values and provide unbiased news and educational content to citizens. It plays an important role in preserving Indian culture and providing coverage of national events. However, Prasar Bharati now faces challenges of financial sustainability, competition from private media, and adapting to new digital technologies and audience preferences.

1. Prasar Bharati
The Public Service Broadcaster of Bharat
Submitted By- Jiya Jay Singh
SubmittedTo –Vishakha Mam

2. Introduction
• Prasar Bharati – India’s largest public broadcasting agency.
• The Prasar Bharati Act, 1990, then finally implemented on November
23, 1997
• It consists of Doordarshan television network and All India Radio,
previously been the media units of the Ministry Of Information and
Broadcasting.
• The main motive of the Act is to provide freedom to electronic media
i.e. the All India Radio and Doordarshan from the Government.

3. Historical Background
 British colonial rule and the All India
Radio (AIR)-
Before the establishment of Prasar
Bharati, India's broadcasting
landscape was primarily dominated by
two separate entities: All India Radio
(AIR) and Doordarshan.

4. All India Radio (AIR)- आकाशवाणी
 AIR- Established in 1936, as Indian State Broadcasting Service, during
British colonial rule.
 India's first radio broadcasting organization- crucial role of spreading
messages of freedom and independence during the Indian
independence movement.
 Became the official radio broadcaster of the Indian government
 Responsible for broadcasting news, entertainment, cultural programs,
and educational content.
 Broadcasts in multiple languages, reflecting India's linguistic diversity.

5. Doordarshan
 Doordarshan- meaning “Distant vision" in Hindi.
 Established in 1959, as India's first television broadcasting service- was
initially part of AIR, but later separated.
 The sole television broadcaster in India- crucial role in disseminating
information and entertainment to the public.
 Became a source of national and international news, cultural
programs, and educational content.

6. Circumstances Leading to the Creation of
Prasar Bharati
 Despite their significance, AIR and Doordarshan were under control of
the government, which led to concerns about their editorial
independence and autonomy.
 Needed to insulate (protect) public broadcasters from political
influence & ensure to function in public interest.
 Idea of creating an autonomous public service broadcaster gained
momentum- essential to promote unbiased and high-quality
programming that served the diverse needs and interests of India's
vast population.

7. Formation of Prasar Bharati- I
• During the Emergency period(1975 to 1977), Indira Gandhi buried the Chanda
Committee Report- Openly questioned the need for credibility (विश्वसनीयता) for the
Government media- Widely misused the AIR for political propaganda.
• 1977- Initial steps were taken by Janata Government, to suggest a remedy- B.G.
Varghese Committee was appointed
• 1978- Report submitted by committee to recommend that there should be an
independent National Broadcasting Trust (आकाश भारती) responsible for both
Akashvani(AIR) and Doordarshan.
• 1979- Bill was introduced by L.K. Advani in the Parliament, the then Information and
Broadcasting Minister- Bill proposed the “Autonomous Corporation” for both AIR
and Doordarshan, known as Prasar Bharati.
• The bill lapsed and Congress Government did not reintroduce the bill of its previous
government.

8. Formation of Prasar Bharati- II
• 1982- P.C. Joshi Committee was appointed- aimed to prepare
a software plan for Doordarshan.
• According to committee, Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting should be recognized- Railway Board should be
created in which only professional experienced person should
get the entry
• 1989- Prasar Bharati Bill introduced by the National Front
Government- Bill borrowed some contents from the previous
bill and also added some new changes- V.P. Singh
Government moved this bill, passed in Lok Sabha in August
1990.

9. Formation of Prasar Bharati- III
 1992- Vardan Committee set up by P.V. Narasimha Rao- The committee was
under K.A. Vardan, the additional secretary of Information and Broadcasting
Ministry.
 According to committee, the second channel of Doordarshan should be
leased out in 4 metros, with some FM stations as well- New policies to allow
private and foreign broadcasters to engage in limited operations in India.
 Later K.P. Singh Deo, Information and Broadcasting Minister said that the
invasion of the foreign media would be responded with an indigenous
programming strategy- made repeated statements that Government was
serious about implementing the Prasar Bharati Act, but not want to grant
autonomy to Akashvani and Doordarshan.
 Finally, Prasar Bharati came into force in 1997 which is established under the
“Prasar Bharati Act” and came into existence on 23rd November 1997.

10. First Members of Prasar Bharati
• Dr. Surya Prakash – Chairman, Prasar Bharati (at the time of formation)
• Nikhil Chakravartty- journalist and editor
• Arun Shourie- economist, journalist, and author
• Rammohan Rao- civil servant, Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
• Dr. B. G. Verghese- journalist and author
• Hari Vinayak Pataskar- Marathi writer and author
• Justice (Retd.) Rajindar Sachar- retired judge, Delhi High Court
• Syeda Saiyidain Hameed- social and women's rights activist

11. Objectives
• To uphold the unity and integrity of the country and the values
enshrined in the Constitution.
• To safeguard the citizen’s right to be informed freely, truthfully and
objectively on all matters of public interest, national or international,
and to present a fair and balanced flow of information including
contrasting views without advocating any opinion or ideology of its
own.
• To promote national integration.

12. • To pay special attention to the fields of education and spread of literacy,
agriculture, rural development, environment, health & family welfare and
science & technology.
• To create awareness about women’s issues and take special steps to
protect the interests of children, aged and other vulnerable sections of the
society.
• To provide adequate coverage to diverse cultures, sports and games and
youth affairs.
• To promote social justice, safeguarding the rights of working classes,
minorities and tribal communities.
• To promote research and expand broadcasting faculties & development in
broadcast technology.

13. Prominence in India
 Public Service Broadcaster: Primary focus to serve the public interest-
Provides educational, informative, and culturally diverse content
 Wide Reach: Through Doordarshan (DD) and All India Radio (AIR), Prasar
Bharati reaches a vast audience, including remote and rural areas,
disseminating information and education to all corners of India.
 Cultural Preservation: Broadcasts various cultural programs, traditional
art forms, and languages, contributing to the preservation of India's
diverse cultural identity.
 Educational Content: important for students, providing valuable
resources for learning.

14.  Government Communication: Platform for the government to
communicate important information, policies, and initiatives to the
public- Government addresses, important announcements, and public
service campaigns are often broadcast through Prasar Bharati.
 Coverage of National Events: National events, including Independence
Day and Republic Day celebrations, making it an integral part of these
important national occasions.
 Entertainment and News: Offers a mix of entertainment, news, sports,
and cultural content, catering to a wide range of interests and
preferences.
 Language Diversity: Broadcasts in various languages, ensuring that
content is accessible to people across the linguistic diversity of India.

15. Sentiment-winning programmes
 Bharat Ek Khoj: Based on Jawaharlal Nehru's book "The Discovery of India“,
received numerous awards for its insightful portrayal of India's history and culture.
 The World This Week: A news analysis and discussion program- in-depth reporting
and commentary on international and national events.
 Bharat Ki Chaap: Explored various aspects of Indian culture, art, and heritage.
 Surabhi: A cultural magazine program celebrating the rich and diverse culture of
India.
 Satyamev Jayate: Talk show hosted by Aamir Khan was broadcast on Doordarshan
and dealt with important social issues in India.
 Mann Ki Baat: Although a radio program hosted by the Prime Minister, Narendra
Modi- its inclusivity and accessibility to the masses through All India Radio make it
noteworthy.

16. Challenges and Future
 Financial Sustainability: Generating revenue through advertising and
other means while maintaining public service goals.
 Competition: The media landscape in India has become increasingly
competitive with the rise of private TV channels and digital platforms.
 Quality Content: The need to produce high-quality, engaging content that
appeals to a diverse and tech-savvy audience- Adapting to changing
viewer preferences and maintaining editorial independence.
 Digital Transformation: In terms of technology upgrades, digital outreach,
and ensuring that content is easily accessible and engaging on digital
platforms.

17.  Autonomy: Ensuring and maintaining full autonomy in editorial and financial
matters- Political pressures or government interventions that affect the
organization's independence.
 Language Diversity: In terms of catering to various language audiences
effectively.
 Changing Audience: Understanding and meeting the evolving needs and
preferences of the younger, more digitally connected audience.
 Funding: Securing adequate funding to meet operational and programming
needs, especially for public service broadcasting.
 Technological Infrastructure: Upgrading and maintaining the technological
infrastructure for broadcasting and digital distribution.
 Market Dynamics: Adapting to market dynamics and finding ways to
monetize content effectively while upholding its public service mission.

18. Conclusion
• Autonomous Public Broadcaster: Prasar Bharati stands as India's autonomous
public service broadcaster, ensuring editorial and financial independence.
• Cultural Custodian: It takes pride in promoting and preserving India's rich cultural
heritage through diverse programming.
• Educational Powerhouse: Prasar Bharati plays a pivotal role in delivering
educational content, benefiting students and lifelong learners.
• Extensive Reach: With a vast network, it ensures that information and
entertainment reach urban and remote areas alike.
• National and International Coverage: It's a reliable source for comprehensive
news coverage of both national and international events.
• Challenges and Resilience: While facing challenges like financial sustainability and
competition, Prasar Bharati remains committed to its mission of public service and
cultural promotion.

19. References
• https://www.davuniversity.org/images/files/study-
material/Prasar%20Bharti%20and%20its%20Formation.pdf
• https://www.prasarbharati.gov.in/ActRuleRPdf/Ordinance1998.pdf
• https://prasarbharati.gov.in/mission-
objectives/#:~:text=To%20provide%20adequate%20coverage%20to,classes%
2C%20minorities%20and%20tribal%20communities
• http://friendsofprasarbharati.org/2014/Nov/Development_of_Public_Servic
e_Broadcasting_in_India_%20Roles_Challenges_and_Possibilities.pdf

20. Thank You