Government Allocates ₹4,551 Crore to Information & Broadcasting Ministry: Strategic Investment in Public Broadcasting and Community Media Infrastructure

In a significant budgetary move, the Government of India has sanctioned ₹4,551 crore to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B), marking a substantial commitment to modernizing the nation's public broadcasting ecosystem. This allocation is strategically directed towards three core pillars: bolstering Prasar Bharati's broadcasting infrastructure, accelerating the digitalization of All India Radio (AIR), and facilitating critical upgrades to Direct-to-Home (DTH) services. The investment underscores a deliberate policy shift to enhance the reach, resilience, and technological sophistication of state-owned media, ensuring they remain competitive and authoritative in an increasingly fragmented digital landscape. A notable portion of the funds is earmarked to empower the community radio movement, reflecting a parallel strategy to decentralize information dissemination and foster grassroots engagement. This dual focus—on scaling national broadcast capabilities while nurturing hyper-local media—suggests a comprehensive approach to public communication. Analysts interpret this financial infusion as a calculated effort to fortify the government's communication channels, improve disaster and public service broadcasting capacity, and counter the influence of private and foreign digital platforms. The move is expected to have long-term implications for media sovereignty, public access to information, and the technological parity of India's broadcasting sector.