Current Affairs-Topics

India's 500th Community Radio: A Milestone in Broadcasting

India's 500th Community Radio Station, Apna Radio 90.0 FM, was launched on July 25, 2024, in Mizoram. The station focuses on agricultural information, weather updates, and government schemes, using local languages for accessibility.

Launch of India's 500th Community Radio Station

  • Inaugurated by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on July 25, 2024

  • Named "Apna Radio 90.0 FM", located at IIMC Aizawl, Mizoram

  • Significant milestone in India's Act East Policy

  • Aims to bring substantive change to local communities

  • Focus on agricultural information, weather updates, and government schemes

  • Broadcasts in local languages to ensure accessibility

Importance of Community Radio in India

  • Differs from public service and commercial radio

  • Low-power broadcasting focused on smaller geographical areas

  • Community-centric and operated by local communities

  • Uses local dialects and languages

  • Addresses specific local issues (e.g., nutrition, health, community development)

  • Plays a crucial role during natural disasters

  • Provides a platform for alternative voices and marginalized sections

  • The government permits various entities to set up stations:

    • Educational institutions
    • Community-based organizations
    • Registered societies
    • Trusts

10th National Community Radio Awards

  • Instituted by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in 2011-12

  • Encourages innovation and competition among Community Radio Stations

Four award categories:

a. Thematic Award

b. Most Innovative Community Engagement Award

c. Promoting Local Culture Award

d. Sustainability Model Award

Each category offers three prizes:

    • First Prize: Rs. 1,00,000

    • Second Prize: Rs. 75,000

    • Third Prize: Rs. 50,000

Notable winners include:

    • Radio Mayur (Bihar) for "Tech Sakhi"

    • Yerlawani Sangli (Maharashtra) for "Kahani Sunandachi"

    • Radio Brahmaputra (Assam) for "Igarekun"

    • Radio Benziger (Kerala) for the sustainability model

Government Initiatives and Future Prospects

  • Record budget allocation for the North East region's railway connectivity
  • Commitment to fostering the development of community radio stations nationwide

  • Emphasis on last-mile information communication

  • Plans to expand community radio networks, especially in agrarian states

  • Focus on using community radio for disaster management and rural development

In Conclusion

The launch of Apna Radio 90.0 FM as India’s 500th community radio station marks a significant milestone in strengthening grassroots communication. By providing vital information on agriculture, weather, and government schemes in local languages, community radio stations play a crucial role in empowering marginalized communities.

With government initiatives supporting their expansion, these stations are set to become even more integral in disaster management, rural development, and preserving local culture, ensuring last-mile connectivity for underserved regions.

More Related Articles

PARAKH Assessment 2025 Report of Education

The PARAKH Assessment 2025 (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development Rashtriya Sarvekshan) has brought forth key insights into India’s school educat

ISRO Tests Gaganyaan Propulsion Module

On July 3, 2025, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a major milestone by successfully testing the Gaganyaan propulsion system at the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, Ta

India-Brazil $20 billion Trade Target

During his official visit to Brazil on July 9, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi set a bold goal of achieving the India-Brazil $20 billion trade target by 2030, up from the current $12.2 billion.

UAE Golden Visa 2025 Scheme

Launched by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2025, this visa scheme offers lifetime UAE residency to residents of India and Bangladesh, without requiring any investment in property or business.

India Merchandise Exports vs Services

India's merchandise exports have undergone a significant transformation in recent years. Traditionally known for shipping physical goods like textiles and minerals, India's merchandise exp

Mega GNIP Andaman Nicobar Project

The GNIP Andaman Nicobar (Great Nicobar Infrastructure Project) is a ₹72,000 crore island project announced by the Indian government. It involves large-scale development on Great Nicobar Island,

India's CSIR IGIB Biobank

India has taken a historic step in scientific innovation with the inauguration of the CSIR IGIB Biobank at the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), under the Council of Scientific

TB Mortality Causes in India

Puducherry has become the first Union Territory in India to integrate TB screening into the Family Adoption Programme, a major initiative in India’s ongoing war against tuberculosis (TB). Th

Gig Economy Jobs in India

The rise of Gig economy jobs in India has reshaped the employment landscape. Recently, the Government of India approved the use of bike taxis through aggregators, pending individual state governme

Aastha Poonia Indian Navy Fighter

Sub Lieutenant Aastha Poonia, Indian Navy, has etched her name in history by becoming the first woman officer to be streamed into the fighter stream of Naval Aviation. This monumental achieveme

Toppers

anil kumar
Akshay kuamr
geeta kumari
shubham