Today is Prasar Bharati day. It was on this day in 1997 the statutory autonomous body was established under the Prasar Bharati Act.

Prasar Bharati was established following a demand that government owned broadcasters in the country be given autonomy like those in many other countries.

Our correspondent reports that the Prasar Bharti Act was the first instance of the government voluntarily bringing in legislation to free the media from its control. The move had brought in revolutionary changes in broadcasting field.

Prasar Bharti Act formulated in 1990 was notified seven years later on 23rd November 1997. The later ammendments ushered in full autonomy to All India Radio and Doordarshan to ensure their free, fair and objective coverage.

All India Radio through its News bulletins and programs in English,vernacular and foreign languages have been serving the informative and entertainment needs of listeners.