Prasar Bharati- The Public Service Broadcaster of India

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