**Executive Summary**
This document contains the Minister of Information and Broadcasting's response to Unstarred Question No. 881 in the Lok Sabha, concerning budgetary support and expansion of broadcasting infrastructure in Odisha. The response, to be answered on February 4, 2026, details budget allocations, FM transmitter upgrades, and community radio support, as well as government efforts to improve digital and radio broadcasting coverage in remote areas of the Kandhamal Lok Sabha Constituency. The Financial Year (FY) 2026-27 is a key date/deadline that relates to the allocation for Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND).
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Financial Allocations:**
* ₹509.24 crore allocated under the Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) scheme for Prasar Bharati for FY 2026-27.
* ₹8 crore allocated under the Supporting Community Radio Movement (CRS) scheme in India for the year 2026-27.
* **FM Transmitters and Digital Upgradation:**
* 68 new Akashvani FM transmitters sanctioned across the country under the BIND Scheme for 2021-26.
* Digital upgradation of Akashvani in Odisha includes new FM transmitters at Bonaigarh (1 kW) and Baleshwar (5 kW).
* Upgradation of FM transmitters at Baripada, Bhawanipatna and Sambalpur from 5 kW to 10 kW and Rairangpur from 1 kW to 5 kW.
* **Community Radio Support:**
* Four Community Radio Stations (CRS) in Odisha supported during FY 2025-26: Radio SWATI, Radio Adar, Radio Utkal, and Radio Dhenkanal.
* ₹36,67,246 in grants provided for equipment procurement for these CRS.
* **Akashvani Programming:**
* Akashvani broadcasts programs in 23 languages (including Odia and Santhali) and 182 dialects (including Kui).
* The primary channel of Akashvani Bhawanipatna (Kalahandi district) broadcasts tribal songs and programs in the Kui dialect.
* **National Broadcasting Infrastructure**
* All India Radio (AIR) operates 591 broadcasting stations across the country, including 2 FM Relay Stations located at Baliguda and Phulbani in the Kandhamal Lok Sabha Constituency.
* **New-Age Initiatives:**
* Prasar Bharati's OTT platform "WAVES" launched in 2024 (multi-genre digital streaming aggregator platform).
* DD Free Dish has grown from 104 channels in 2019 to 510 channels and includes private and educational TV channels and 48 Akashvani radio channels.
* NewsOnAir App streams over 260 live radio channels of Akashvani.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Prasar Bharati**
* **Impact:** Receives substantial financial support for the development, modernization, and upgradation of its broadcasting infrastructure.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the ₹509.24 crore allocated under the BIND scheme for infrastructure development and upgrades.
**Stakeholder: Community Radio Stations in Odisha**
* **Impact:** Receive financial support and equipment grants to improve their broadcasting capabilities.
* **Action Required:** Use the allocated grants of ₹36,67,246 for procurement of equipment, such as FM transmitters, audio recorders, audio processors, and studio infrastructure.
**Stakeholder: Residents of Kandhamal Lok Sabha Constituency (Odisha)**
* **Impact:** Improved digital and radio broadcasting coverage.
* **Action Required:** No specific action required from the residents, as this relates to the coverage of government schemes.
**Stakeholder: Akashvani**
* **Impact:** Expansion of broadcasting capabilities through the establishment of new FM transmitters and digital upgrades.
* **Action Required:** Establish 68 new Akashvani FM transmitters across the country under the BIND Scheme for 2021-26.
Key Entities Referenced
Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) scheme: Scheme for development, modernization and upgradation of broadcasting infrastructure of Prasar Bharati.
Prasar Bharati: India's public service broadcaster, responsible for Doordarshan and All India Radio.
Supporting Community Radio Movement (CRS): Scheme supporting Community Radio Stations, including equipment grants and capacity-building.
Odisha: Indian state where budgetary support and expansion of broadcasting infrastructure are being discussed.
Akashvani: A division of Prasar Bharati, also known as All India Radio (AIR).
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No.881
(TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2026)
BUDGETARY SUPPORT AND EXPANSION OF BROADCASTING INFRASTRUCTURE
IN ODISHA
881. SHRI SUKANTA KUMAR PANIGRAHI:
Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:
a) the details of budget allocations for the year 2026–27 for Prasar Bharati/Doordarshan
Kendras and Community Radio Stations including Radio Muskan in the State of Odisha;
b) the details of new FM transmitters, digital upgradation initiatives and content production in
tribal languages such as Kui undertaken under schemes including the Supporting
Community Radio Movement;
c) the number of Community Radio Stations supported in Odisha including Kandhamal
district, during the year 2025–26 along with the details of equipment grants and capacity-
building or training provided; and
d) the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to address gaps in digital and
radio broadcasting coverage in remote areas of the Kandhamal Lok Sabha Constituency for
rural empowerment, public awareness of Government schemes and inclusive
communication?ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
(DR. L. MURUGAN)
(a) to (d):
The allocation for Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) scheme for
development, modernization and upgradation of broadcasting infrastructure of Prasar Bharati for
FY 2026-27 is ₹509.24 cr. Further, the allocation under scheme for Supporting Community Radio
Movement (CRS) in India for the year 2026-27 is ₹8 cr.
The Government has sanctioned the establishment of 68 new Akashvani FM transmitters across the
country under the BIND Scheme for 2021-26. The digital upgradation of Akashvani in Odisha
includes new FM transmitters at Bonaigarh (1 kW) and Baleshwar (5 kW), upgradation of FM
transmitters at Baripada, Bhawanipatna and Sambalpur from 5 kW to 10 kW, and upgradation at
Rairangpur from 1 kW to 5 kW.
Akashvani broadcasts programmes in 23 languages, including Odia and Santhali, and in 182
dialects, including tribal dialects such as Kui. The primary channel of Akashvani, Bhawanipatna,
located in Kalahandi district of Odisha, broadcasts tribal songs and programmes, including in the
Kui dialect.Under the scheme “Supporting Community Radio Movement in India”, 4 CRS in Odisha have been
supported during FY 2025–26, namely, Radio SWATI, Radio Adar, Radio Utkal and Radio
Dhenkanal. Grants of ₹ 36,67,246 have been provided to them for the procurement of equipment
such as FM transmitters, audio recorders, audio processors and studio infrastructure.
All India Radio (AIR) operates 591 broadcasting stations across the country, including 2 FM Relay
Stations located at Baliguda and Phulbani in the Kandhamal Lok Sabha Constituency.
Some of the new-age initiatives undertaken to enable users to access regional and national content
anytime and anywhere on their mobile devices include -
Prasar Bharati's OTT platform “WAVES" launched in 2024
o Multi-genre digital streaming aggregator platform providing infotainment content in
multiple Indian Languages
o Various channels of Doordarshan and AIR network are integrated into this platform
DD Free Dish (Free-to-Air Direct-To-Home)
o Grown significantly from 104 channels in 2019 to 510 channels at present
o Includes private and educational TV channels, besides the Doordarshan channels.
o 48 Akashvani radio channels
NewsOnAir App
o Streaming of more than 260 live radio channels of Akashvani.
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