COMMITTEES FOR
RADIO IN INDIA
Several committees have been formulated in
independent India to look into autonomy for public
service broadcasters-All India Radio and Doordarshan.
Chanda Committee Report 1964 - 1966
Background & Setup
Official name: Report of the Committee on Broadcasting and Information Media.
Constituted in 1964, chaired by Ashok Chanda, former Auditor-General of India; presented in 1966.
Key Findings & Recommendations
Government Interference
Highlighted that All India Radio (AIR) was severely compromised by political appointments and ongoing ministerial
interventions, affecting programming decisions and operational autonomy.
Financial Constraints
Noted that Indian broadcasting (both radio and TV) was underfunded compared to other countries, limiting its development.
Recommended increased financial support.
Public Control with Supplementary Advertising
Recommended that radio and television remain publicly controlled to serve the public interest, yet could be funded also
through advertising revenue—balancing public service with financial viability.
Separation of Functions
Proposed separating AIR and Doordarshan into distinct entities to improve efficiency and accountability—allowing each to
focus on its own mandate.
Chanda Committee Report 1964 - 1966
Psychological Transformation
Urged a "psychological transformation" in how the government perceived broadcasting—shifting from viewing it as a luxury
for the elite to recognizing it as a vital tool for public communication.
Comprehensive Recommendations
Issued a total of 219 recommendations covering governance structures, funding mechanisms, and program content
guidelines.
Impact & Legacy
Although many recommendations weren’t implemented immediately, the report laid important groundwork for future reforms in
Indian broadcasting.
The key recommendation—to separate AIR and Doordarshan into distinct entities—was eventually realized in 1976.
The Chanda Report remains a foundational document in understanding media policy evolution in India, and continues to be
referenced in debates around media autonomy, government regulation, journalistic standards, and press freedom
The Verghese Committee 1977-78
The Government of India set up the Verghese Committee on 17 August 1977 under the chairmanship of eminent journalist
B.G. Verghese.
Its main recommendation was the creation of “Akash Bharati” – a National Broadcasting Trust to ensure autonomy for both
All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan.
The committee observed that people demanded an independent broadcasting corporation because the executive,
supported by a compliant Parliament, had misused broadcasting during the Emergency.
It stressed that such misuse must be prevented for all times to come.
Reasons Behind the Formation of the Verghese Committee
Opposition parties consistently demanded that AIR and Doordarshan be freed from government control.
However, the government under Indira Gandhi maintained that AIR was a government organization and would be used for
government purposes.
In 1977, the Janata Party, the first non-Congress government at the Centre, came to power.
The new government was committed to granting autonomy to the influential media platforms of AIR and Doordarshan.
The Verghese Committee 1977-78
Recommendations
The Board should consist of 1 Chairman and 11 Members.
The Chairman and 3 Members to be permanent.
Selection process: The President, Lokpal, and Chief Justice of India would appoint the Chairman and Members.
Final Outcome
The Verghese Committee submitted its report on 24 February 1978.
A bill based on its recommendations was introduced in the Lok Sabha.
However, before the bill could be passed, the government fell, and the proposal could not be implemented.
Sengupta Committee (1995)
The Nitesh Sengupta Committee (Expert Committee) was constituted by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting on 28
December 1995.
Purpose: To re-examine the Prasar Bharati Act, 1990.
Members of the Committee:
Dr. N.K. Sengupta – Chairman
M.R. Narayana – Member
Ved Lekha – Member
Mandate of the Sengupta Committee:
The committee was tasked to suggest:
Strengthening Prasar Bharati
Measures to sustain, strengthen, and amplify its role as a public broadcaster, especially regarding its relationship with the
government.
Digitisation of Archives
Steps to digitise the archives of Doordarshan and All India Radio, including material from the Independence movement era.
Development of supporting infrastructure: data digitisation systems, data centres, and networks.
Sengupta Committee (1995)
Use of New Media
Strategies to use new media for delivering digital content:
In broadcast mode (through DTH).
In on-demand mode – free (via YouTube/social media)
Global Outreach
A strategy to build a network of domestic and overseas business partners.
Creation of an exclusive overseas service of Prasar Bharati for a wider global audience.
Observations of the Sengupta Committee
In June 1996, the Chairman visited London and held discussions with the Administrative Minister for BBC, Other officials of
the UK Ministry.
Objective:
To understand how the UK ensured the autonomous functioning of the BBC.
To study the challenges posed by the rapid growth of satellite channels.
Sengupta Committee (1995)
Final review
Prasar Bharati should function as a Statutory Corporation under the Prasar Bharati Act.
Akashvani (AIR) and Doordarshan should be split into two separate wings under Prasar Bharati, with clear division
of assets, personnel, and operations.
Full-time Chairman recommended, combining the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive for effective autonomy
and management.
Board Composition: Six full-time members + four part-time members + one representative from the Ministry of
I&B (Joint Secretary level). The Managing Directors of AIR and Doordarshan to be Board members.
Employees’ Representation: Opposed elected employee representatives on the Board (risk of conflict and
disharmony).
Sengupta Committee (1995)
Suggested:
Separate employee participation scheme below Board level (for staff & welfare issues).
Appointment of Chairman
Chairman of Prasar Bharati Board to be appointed by the President of India.
Appointment based on recommendation of a Committee:
Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (as Committee Chair).
Leader of the Opposition, Lok Sabha.
Chairman, Press Council of India.
Tenure of Office
Chairman & whole-time members: 5 years or up to the age of 55 years (whichever earlier).
First Chairman: entitled to complete a full 5-year term, regardless of age.
Part-time members: tenure should be 4 years (instead of 6 years in the Act).
Employees’ Status
Employees recruited for AIR & Doordarshan must become Corporation employees.
Sengupta Committee (1995)
Functions:
License private domestic & foreign channels.
Impose terms & conditions as per Broadcasting and Advertising Codes.
Adjudicate complaints from public/consumer forums.
Regulate both private channels and Prasar Bharati channels.
Educational Channels
AIR & Doordarshan should dedicate at least one channel each to education, including:
Literacy promotion.
Encourage satellite channels, open universities, and higher education institutions to contribute.
Aim: To spread literacy and empower citizens to shape their own destinies.
Sengupta Committee (1995)
Deputy Managing Directors
Recommended creation of six Deputy Managing Directors under the Managing Directors of AIR & Doordarshan.
Each to represent one discipline:
Engineering, Programmes, News, Marketing & Audience Research, Finance, Personnel / Administration
Marketing Set-up
Urgent need for a professional marketing division in both AIR and Doordarshan.
First step: Strengthen Commercial Broadcasting Wing and train personnel in airtime marketing.
Sengupta Committee (1995)
Asset Transfer
Hardware assets of AIR & Doordarshan (worth approx. ₹55,000 crores) to be leased to Prasar Bharati for 99 years.
Financial Support
Initially, it will depend on an annual government grant-in-aid, which should reduce gradually as advertising and commercial
revenue increases.
Broadcasting License Fee
Recommend revival of an annual license fee for TV sets:
₹500 for colour TVs.
₹200 for black & white TVs.
Alternative: One-time fee at purchase — ₹1,000 (colour), ₹500 (black & white).
Licensing of Satellite Channels
Government should grant licences to domestic and foreign satellite channel operators with uplinking facilities from India.
Local Broadcasting Stations
Permit local terrestrial TV and radio stations.
These can aid municipal bodies and Panchayati Raj Institutions in providing community-level broadcasting services.
Bakshi Committee Report (2012)
Changes in Ministry of I&B matters & Prasar Bharati Act
Chair: Shri N. K. Bakshi (a senior civil servant/administrator).
Mandate:
Suggest changes in:
Subjects under Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
Prasar Bharati Act, 1990.
Key Recommendations
1.Citizenship Clause
Chairman and other members of Prasar Bharati should be citizens of India.
2.Natural Justice in Removal
While removing the Chairman or any member, principles of natural justice must be observed.
They should be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard.
3.Defamation Clause
The term “defamation” should be inserted before “unwarranted invasion of privacy”.
Reason: Defamation is a serious offence.
Bakshi Committee Report (2012)
Significance
Strengthened legal safeguards for Prasar Bharati members.
Emphasized accountability and fairness.
Reinforced protection of individual rights and freedom from arbitrary action.
Sam Pitroda Committee (2013)
Objective: Review of Prasar Bharati’s institutional framework, role, and modernization.
Constituted in 2013 under the chairmanship of Sam Pitroda.
Mandate:
Review relationship of Prasar Bharati with Government.
Reassess its role as a public broadcaster.
Suggest measures for technical upgradation.
Key Recommendations (1)
1.Public vs. Government Broadcaster
Amend the Prasar Bharati Act, 1990 to grant genuine autonomy. - Editorial independence, Financial independence,
Administrative independence, Structural independence.
Transform into a true public broadcaster.
Allocate 50% of total expenditure for content generation within 5–7 years.
Sam Pitroda Committee (2013)
Outsourcing of Content
Encourage external producers to ensure high-quality, diverse programming.
Branding Strategy
Create distinct brand identities for each channel.
Define unique content strategies for different TV and Radio channels.
Expansion of Reach
Expand satellite and digital cable TV operations to fulfill public service obligations.
Digitalisation of Radio
Transition from AM to Digital Radio (DRM) after cost and receiver availability evaluation.
Expand FM during transition.
Sam Pitroda Committee (2013)
Digital Archives
Create state-of-the-art archives for DD & AIR content (past + ongoing).
Develop into a National Audio-Visual Archive to consolidate all government initiatives.
The Sam Pitroda Committee (2013) charted a roadmap for Prasar Bharati to evolve from a government-controlled setup to a
true public service broadcaster, backed by autonomy, digitalization, and quality content.