2025-11-29 Sat

Akashvani, also known as All India Radio (AIR), was established in 1936 and functions under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. It holds the distinction of being the largest Radio network globally, based on the number of Languages broadcasted. AIR's domestic services comprise 420 stations that collectively cover nearly 92% of India's geographic expanse and reach 99.19% of its population, offering programs in 23 languages and 179 dialects. Furthermore, the External Services Division broadcasts in 11 Indian languages and 16 foreign languages, connecting with audiences in over 100 countries.

India boasts a rich tradition of radio broadcasting that began in 1923 with programs produced by the Bombay Presidency Radio Club and various other radio clubs. The Indian Broadcasting Company (IBC), a #private entity, was founded in Bombay in 1927. Despite an initial positive response, the IBC encountered financial challenges, which ultimately led to the establishment of the Indian State Broadcasting Service (ISBS) in 1930. In 1936, the ISBS was renamed All India Radio, which remains the nation’s public radio broadcaster to this day. Later, Rabindranath Tagore renamed it 'Akashvani', which translates to ‘the voice that comes over from the skies,’ through a poem he composed in 1938 for the inauguration of Calcutta’s shortwave service.

In the period following India’s #Independence, AIR was limited to a few radio stations serving metropolitan areas and Princely States, with only 250,000 receiver sets available for a population exceeding 325 million. This situation changed as radio emerged as a crucial instrument for fostering unity in the newly independent India. By 1961, the number of stations had expanded significantly, and by 1981, nearly a hundred centers were serving an estimated 90 million receivers.

The introduction of FM broadcasting in Chennai in 1977 marked a new phase in radio dissemination, with growth occurring throughout the 1990s primarily aimed at urban audiences. In the contemporary landscape, 17 AIR channels are live-streamed via the AIR Website (http://allindiaradio.gov.in) and the mobile application ‘All India Radio Live.’ This provides a diverse array of infotainment and Public Service in languages such as Hindi, Urdu, and various Regional dialects. These channels are accessible not only within India but also in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada through voice-controlled speakers.

On 08 June 1961, India Post celebrated the Silver Jubilee of AIR by issuing a commemorative postage stamp, which prominently featured the AIR Logo and transmitting aerials, carrying a face value of 15 naye paise.