Answer: Akashvani (All India Radio) is the public radio broadcaster of India.
- Radio broadcasting in India began in 1923 with private radio clubs such as the Radio Club of Bombay; in 1927 the Indian Broadcasting Company started stations at Mumbai and Kolkata.
- In 1930 the government took over broadcasting as the Indian State Broadcasting Service, which was renamed All India Radio in 1936.
- It came to be called ‘Akashvani’ in 1957, the year the popular Vividh Bharati service also started.
- Akashvani broadcasts news, music, plays, programmes for farmers, students, women and children in many Indian languages.
- Since 1997 it has been part of Prasar Bharati; it has also started FM channels. It has played an important role in spreading information and education to the remotest parts of India.
