Parliament Question: Expansion of Community Radio Services

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2958 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2026) EXPANSION OF COMMUNITY RADIO SERVICES

2958. SHRI TARIQ ANWAR:

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

(a) whether the Government has carried out assessment of the Community Radio Stations sanctioned under the Community Radio Assistance Scheme;

(b) if so, the details of central assistance released, State-wise along with the status of their operation from the year 2023-24 till date;

(c) whether the Government has conducted review of the outreach and effectiveness of programmes on education, agriculture, health, women empowerment and public awareness through community radio and if so, the key findings thereof; and

(d) whether the Government is contemplating to provide additional Central Assistance or take special initiatives to expand community radio services, set up new stations and encourage public interest broadcasting in areas of social and linguistic diversity like Bihar particularly in Seemanchal region and if so, the details thereof?ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (DR. L. MURUGAN)

(a) to (d):

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has undertaken an assessment of the status and outreach of Community Radio Stations (CRSs) through a nationwide study on "Listenership, Reach, Effectiveness and Financial Sustainability of Community Radio Stations in India".

The Study Report is available on Ministry’s website at https://mib.gov.in/.

Community Radio Stations are supported under "Supporting Community Radio Movement in India" – a Central Sector Scheme. The objectives of the scheme are to strengthen new and existing Community Radio Stations (CRSs) with resources, capacity and technology. The key components of the scheme include providing financial assistance to new and existing CRSs for procurement or replacement of equipment and, capacity building and training of community radio operators. The scheme has been extended for a period of five years from 2026-27 to 2030-31 with total outlay of Rs. 50 Crore.

The policy guidelines prescribe at least 50 percent of the content of Community Radio Stations is generated with community participation, with at least half of such content focusing on women empowerment and should preferably be in the local language and dialect(s).

At present, 565 CRSs are commissioned in country. The State-wise details of all operational Community Radio Stations and financial assistance provided to CRSs in the scheme period 2021-2026, including those in Bihar, are available on the Ministry's website at

https://mib.gov.in/.

From F.Y. 2023-24 till date, financial assistance of Rs. 12.31 crore have been provided to 128 CRSs including four CRSs from Gopalganj, Saharsa, Vaishali and Siwan district of Bihar.

Further, to create awareness and promote knowledge sharing, the Ministry organises workshops, seminars, and regional/national Sammelans across the country under the scheme.

One such awareness workshop was organized in January 2024 in Patna, Bihar. *****