**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has launched an initiative to provide free digital access to flagship journals and 227 e-books via Prasar Bharati’s WAVES OTT platform. Announced on April 9, 2026, the project aims to democratize knowledge by offering socio-economic analysis and recruitment resources nationwide. Approximately 300 additional e-books are scheduled to be released at a nominal cost by the end of April 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Free Digital Publications**
* **Flagship Journals:** Yojana, Kurukshetra, Aajkal, and Bal Bharati are now available free of cost on the WAVES OTT platform.
* **Employment News:** The weekly resource for job seekers, providing recruitment notifications and career guidance, is now accessible for free.
* **E-books:** 227 e-books, including the authoritative Bharat Year Book, can be accessed at no charge.
**Future Digital Offerings**
* **Expansion:** Plans are in place to add approximately 300 more e-books to the platform by the end of April 2026.
* **Pricing Policy:** These upcoming publications will be available at a nominal cost to ensure continued affordability.
**Physical Book Distribution**
* **Available Inventory:** A total of 524 printed books are currently listed for purchase through the platform.
* **Integration:** Physical sales are enabled via the CSC Grameen eStore under the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) framework.
* **Accessibility:** This framework ensures that physical copies can reach readers in rural and remote areas.
**Impact Analysis**
**General Readers and Students**
**Impact**
They gain immediate, nationwide access to credible and culturally enriching content regarding India's governance, economy, and socio-economic issues at no cost.
**Action Required**
Visit the WAVES OTT platform to access the digital repository of journals and the Bharat Year Book.
**Job Seekers**
**Impact**
Benefit from free, timely access to reliable information on employment opportunities, recruitment notifications, and skill development resources.
**Action Required**
Utilize the WAVES platform to monitor weekly updates in the digital version of Employment News.
**Rural and Remote Residents**
**Impact**
Enhanced convenience in obtaining physical publications through the integration of the CSC Grameen eStore and ONDC.
**Action Required**
Use the WAVES platform to browse and purchase printed books for delivery to their locations.
Key Entities Referenced
Publications Division: The primary department under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting responsible for releasing flagship journals and e-books for free public access.
WAVES OTT: The digital platform hosting the Publications Division’s repository of journals and e-books to democratize knowledge access.
ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce): The framework enabling the purchase and nationwide availability of physical copies of Publications Division books.
CSC Grameen eStore: The e-commerce platform used under the ONDC framework to ensure physical books reach readers in rural and remote areas.
Prasar Bharati: India's public service broadcaster which operates the WAVES OTT platform used for this digital dissemination initiative.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Yojana, Kurukshetra & Employment News Now
Freely Available on WAVES OTT
Publications Division Releases 227 E-Books, Including India
Year Book, for Free Access
Posted On: 09 APR 2026 4:31PM by PIB Delhi
In a major push towards digital knowledge access, the Publications Division has made its flagship journals
Yojana, Kurukshetra, Aajkal and Bal Bharati along with the weekly Employment News, available free of
cost on Prasar Bharati’s WAVES OTT platform, bringing its rich repository directly to readers nationwide.
This initiative is aimed at democratizing access to credible, informative, and culturally enriching content
for readers across the country. The monthly journals are widely recognized for their in-depth analysis of
socio-economic issues, rural development, literature, and children’s education, while Employment News
serves as a vital resource for job seekers by providing reliable and timely information on employment
opportunities, recruitment notifications, career guidance, and skill development.In addition to journals, a comprehensive collection of e-books across a wide range of genres has also been
made available free of cost on the WAVES platform. This includes the prestigious Bharat Year Book , a
flagship publication known for its authoritative and detailed account of India’s governance, economy, and
development initiatives. At present, a total of 227 e-books are accessible free of charge to readers.
Further expanding its digital offerings, the Publications Division plans to make approximately 300
additional e-books available on the WAVES platform by the end of April. These publications will be
offered at a nominal cost, ensuring affordability while continuing the Division’s mission of promoting
knowledge dissemination.
To further enhance accessibility and reader convenience, printed books published by the Publications
Division can also be purchased through the WAVES platform. This facility is being enabled through CSC
Grameen eStore under the ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce) framework, ensuring seamless
availability of physical copies to readers across the country, including in rural and remote areas. A total of
524 printed books are available to purchase at present.
This initiative underscores the Publications Division’s commitment to leveraging digital platforms to
broaden the reach of its publications and cater to the evolving preferences of readers. By integrating free
digital access with affordable paid content and physical book availability, the Division aims to create a
comprehensive and inclusive reading ecosystem.
The public is encouraged to explore the extensive range of journals and e-books now available on the
WAVES OTT platform and benefit from this initiative.
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Mahesh Kumar/ Aparajita Priyadarshini
(Release ID: 2250465) Visitor Counter : 779
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