NATIONAL BROADCASTING DAY

Celebrated on 23 July every year,

Purpose : to commemorate the establishment of the Indian Broadcasting Company (IBC) in 1927, marking the beginning of organized radio broadcasting in India.

ABOUT THE DAY & BROADCASTER:

• 1923: First informal radio broadcast made by the Bombay Presidency Radio Club.
• 1927: Indian Broadcasting Company set up licensed radio stations in Bombay and Calcutta.
• 1930: Government nationalized broadcasting and renamed it the Indian State Broadcasting Service (ISBS).
• 1936: ISBS was renamed as All India Radio (AIR).
• 1956: AIR adopted the name Akashvani, based on a suggestion by poet Rabindranath Tagore.

ROLE & MILESTONES OF RADIO IN INDIA:

• Played a major role during the freedom struggle and post-independence in spreading education, health, literacy, and agricultural awareness.
• Key milestones:
  • 1957 – Launch of Vividh Bharati
  • 1977 – Start of FM broadcasting in Madras
  • 1997 – Creation of Prasar Bharati, India’s autonomous public broadcaster
  • 2000–2024 – Expansion of community radio, DTH platforms, digital broadcasting, and use of AI tools