**Summary:**
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting addressed Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 604 on July 23, 2025, regarding the Community Radio Content Challenge. The challenge, organized as part of the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) held in Mumbai from May 1-4, 2025, aimed to showcase the impactful work of Community Radio Stations (CRSs) in driving positive change across diverse sectors. The challenge provided CRSs with an opportunity to display their creative and innovative content related to community development, including public health and rural development.
To further support CRSs, the government is implementing the Central Sector Scheme "Supporting Community Radio Movement in India" with an outlay of Rs. 50.00 Crores for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26. The scheme provides: 1) Financial assistance to newly established CRSs after three months of operation; 2) Support for stations operating over five years to renew or replace old equipment; 3) Training and awareness through workshops, webinars, and sammelans; and 4) Stakeholder engagement through regional and national events to enable peer learning. The government plans to leverage community radio to promote public health awareness and rural development, as demonstrated by the inclusion of these themes in the Community Radio Content Challenge.
Key Entities Referenced
Community Radio Content Challenge: A platform designed to empower local communities and amplify their voices through community radio.
SHRI BASAVARAJ BOMMAI: Member of Parliament who raised the question regarding the Community Radio Content Challenge.
LOK SABHA: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question was raised.
DR. L. MURUGAN: The Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, who provided the answer to the question.
World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit WAVES: A summit held in Mumbai, where the Community Radio Content Challenge was organized.
Mumbai, Maharashtra: City in India where the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) was held.
Central Sector Scheme Supporting Community Radio Movement in India: A government scheme to strengthen the development of Community Radio Stations (CRSs) with a financial outlay.
Community Radio Stations CRSs: Local radio stations which participated in Community Radio Content Challenge.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 604
(TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025)
COMMUNITY RADIO CONTENT CHALLENGE
604. SHRI BASAVARAJ BOMMAI:
Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Community Radio Content Challenge platform contributes to empowering local
communities and amplifying their voices;
(b) if so, the details of initiatives undertaken by the Government to enhance the role of
community radio in addressing region-specific issues;
(c) the details of measures that are being implemented to ensure greater participation from
diverse regions in the Community Radio Content Challenge;
(d) whether the Government plan to leverage community radio to promote public health
awareness and rural development; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (DR. L. MURUGAN)
(a) to (e): The Community Radio Content Challenge was organized as part of the World Audio
Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) held in Mumbai from 1st to 4th May, 2025. Its objective
was to highlight the impactful work Community Radio Stations (CRSs) are doing to drive positive
change across diverse sectors.
The challenges provided an opportunity for the CRSs to showcase their creative, impactful, and
innovative content. Entries were invited under various categories, covering crucial aspects of
community development, including programmes on public health & rural development.To strengthen the development of CRSs, the Government implements a Central Sector Scheme -
“Supporting Community Radio Movement in India”. With an outlay of Rs. 50.00 Crores, the scheme
is functional for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26.
The main features of the scheme are as follows:
1. Financial assistance to newly established CRSs after they have been operational for
three months
2. Stations operating for over five years receive support for renewing or replacing old
equipment.
3. Training and awareness through workshops, webinars, and sammelans.
4. Stakeholder Engagement through regional and national events to enable peer learning
among CR stakeholders
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