Prasar Bharati
Prasar Bharati serves as India’s public service broadcaster, overseeing both Doordarshan—the national television network—and All India Radio (AIR), the country’s extensive radio broadcasting service. Doordarshan operates a wide array of channels, including national, regional, and local stations, while AIR runs nearly 470 radio stations across the subcontinent, making it one of the most expansive public radio networks in the world.
The WAVES OTT platform—Prasar Bharati’s flagship digital streaming service—was officially launched on 20 November 2024 during the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa.
Media assets
Television: (Doordarshan): National- DD National, DD News, DD India, DD Sports, DD Bharati, DD Kissan, DD Urdu, DD Retro; Regional- DD Arun Prabha, DD Bangla, DD Bihar, DD Chandana, DD Girnar, DD Madhya Pradesh, DD Malayalam, DD North East, DD Odia, DD Podhigai, DD Punjabi, DD Rajasthan, DD Sahyadri, DD Saptagiri, DD Uttar Pradesh, DD Yadagiri, DD Kashir; State- DD Chhattisgarh, DD Panaji, DD Haryana, DD Himachal Pradesh, DD Jharkhand, DD Manipur, DD Meghalaya, DD Mizoram, DD Nagaland, DD Tripura, DD Uttarakhand; City- DD Andaman and Nicobar, DD Chandigarh, DD Dadra and Nagar Haveli, DD Daman and Diu, DD Delhi, DD Lakshadweep, DD Pondicherry; Satellite- DD India;
Radio: (All India Radio, AIR) (470 radio stations)
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
Prasar Bharati was formally established as an autonomous entity under the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act of 1990. However, the provisions of the Act only came into effect in 1997. Prior to that, both Doordarshan and AIR functioned as integral parts of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB). While the statutory framework grants Prasar Bharati legal autonomy, the Ministry retains considerable leverage, particularly in terms of operational directives and appointments, blurring the lines between editorial independence and state control.
The corporation is governed by a 15-member board. Ten of these members—including the chairperson—are appointed by the President of India. The remaining five include the ex officio director generals of AIR and Doordarshan, a ministry representative appointed by senior officials at the MIB, and two elected representatives from among Prasar Bharati’s own staff.
Gaurav Dwivedi is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1995 batch (Chhattisgarh cadre) and currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Prasar Bharati, India’s public service broadcaster. He was appointed in November 2022 and, as of April 2025, also holds the positions of Member (Finance) and Member (Personnel) of the Prasar Bharati Board. Prior to this, he held senior roles in e-governance and digital infrastructure within the central government. Dwivedi has been instrumental in advancing Prasar Bharati’s digital transformation, notably through the launch and expansion of the WAVES OTT platform and the rollout of AI-assisted newsroom tools.
Source of funding and budget
Prasar Bharati’s funding model is hybrid, combining government grants with commercial revenue. In FY2018–2019, the corporation reported revenue of INR 49.5 billion (approximately USD 711 million), with 61% derived from state subsidies and 24% from advertising and other commercial activities.
The 2021–2022 fiscal year saw a 13% rise in commercial revenues, reaching INR 13.5 billion (USD 168 million), while government support totalled INR 27.6 billion (USD 345 million), as per The Economic Times. The allocation for 2022–2023 stood at INR 28 billion (USD 338 million), with the central government continuing its financial patronage. In February 2023, an additional INR 28 million was approved for future operations, though this constituted a relatively minor subsidy in the overall budget.
In the 2022–2023 fiscal year, Prasar Bharati received a government grant of INR 28 billion, according to multiple media reports (≈ USD 338 million at the time of reporting). For 2023–2024, the Union Budget allocated INR 26.44 billion to Prasar Bharati, marking a slight reduction from the previous year.
The 2024–2025 revised estimate (RE) was approximately INR 25.10 billion, with a budget estimate (BE) of INR 24.80 billion for 2025–2026, according to official Ministry of Information and Broadcasting data and media analysis.
These allocations represent a gradual decrease in state subsidies to the broadcaster, continuing a trend towards modest budget contraction since the 2022–2023 peak.
| Fiscal Year | Government Allocation (INR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2022–2023 | ₹28.00 billion | Confirmed in media reports |
| 2023–2024 (BE) | ₹26.44 billion | Union Budget |
| 2024–2025 (RE) | ₹25.10 billion (approx.) | Revised Estimate |
| 2025–2026 (BE) | ₹24.80 billion (approx.) | Budget Estimate (–3% YoY decline) |
Editorial independence
Despite its statutory autonomy, Prasar Bharati has long struggled to assert genuine editorial independence. The Prasar Bharati Act empowers the central government to issue binding directions under vague provisions such as safeguarding “sovereignty, unity and integrity of India” or ensuring “public order.” These clauses have been frequently used to shape or suppress coverage of politically sensitive issues.
The appointment process for both board members and editorial staff is frequently politicized. Journalists and media observers interviewed between February 2023 and July 2025 highlighted persistent partisan bias in DD News, with several high-level appointments reportedly linked to ruling party affiliates or Congress-era patronage networks.
A report from the Media Influence Matrix project underscored these concerns, stating:
“The Corporation lacks editorial freedom promised to it via the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act of 1990. This has led to the Corporation repeatedly being used for self-aggrandizing publicity by successive governments, besides giving preferential airtime to ruling governments and blacking out any criticism towards them.”
An MJRC review of news content from 15 Indian outlets, including Prasar Bharati, covering the period November 2023 to April 2024, found recurring patterns of censorship targeting opposition figures, notably in coverage of parliamentary debates and state-level protests.
Prasar Bharati has formal mechanisms such as the Citizen’s Charters for Doordarshan and AIR, outlining commitments to content diversity and public service. However, these documents fall short of guaranteeing editorial independence. Similarly, its Vigilance Wing and Independent External Monitor focus on procedural and procurement-related integrity rather than content oversight, limiting their relevance for upholding journalistic standards.
July 2025