Today is National Broadcasting day. On this day in 1927, Indian Broadcasting Company began organized radio broadcasting from Bombay station. To mark the occasion, All India Radio organized a symposium in New Delhi on the subject "Creation of New India and Broadcasting Medium". Speaking at the symposium, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said, Prasar Bharati has been playing a significant role in taking news of public interest to the length and breadth of the country. He said, news broadcast by All India Radio is impartial, balanced and fair. <br/><br/>Mr Rathore said, government is committed to the autonomy of Prasar Bharati. He said, in Prasar Bharati public service comes first. He said, efforts are on to replace shortwave and Medium wave transmitters with FM broadcasts throughout the country. He said, government is taking steps to encourage and strengthen Community Radio. Speaking on the occasion, Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar said, Akashvani has played a pivotal role in democratizing sounds and cementing emotional unity among Indians. He said, Radio continues to be a vibrant mode of communication.<br/><br/>Parliamentarians, eminent journalists and media experts also spoke on the occasion. At present AIR is one of the largest broadcasting organisations in the world in terms of the number of languages of broadcast, the spectrum of socio-economic and cultural diversity it serves. AIR's home service comprises 414 stations today located across the country, reaching nearly 92 per cent of the country's area and 99.19 per cent of the total population. AIR originates programming in 23 languages and 146 dialects.