Expansion of Community Radio Stations in India (2020–2024)

 

The expansion of Community Radio Stations (CRS) in India from 2020 to 2024 represents a significant period of decentralized media growth, with a total of 212 new stations established across 194 different districts. This study, formatted for scholarly review, examines the spatial and temporal trends of these installations using the data provided by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. While the global communication landscape shifted during these years, India’s community radio sector demonstrated a non-linear but robust upward trajectory, peaking significantly in 2023 before stabilizing in 2024. The methodology for this analysis involves a quantitative review of Annexure – I from (https://mib.gov.in/sites/default/files/2025-12/list-of-newly-established-community-radio-stations-crs-for-the-last-five-years-state-and-district-wise-1.pdf), which details the annual establishment of CRS and the number of districts covered across 36 States and Union Territories (UTs). It should be noted that while the statistical data is drawn directly from the sources, any discussion regarding the theoretical "last mile" communication or policy motivations is based on general academic knowledge and may require independent verification.

The national temporal pattern reveals that the period began with modest activity, seeing 20 new stations in 2020 and 24 in 2021. However, 2022 served as a turning point where expansion more than doubled to 59 new stations. This momentum culminated in a historic peak in 2023, during which 81 new stations were established across 75 districts. By 2024, the rate of establishment moderated to 28 stations, though it achieved a notable geographic precision by covering 28 unique districts. This trajectory suggests a strategic emphasis on expanding the reach of community radio rather than merely increasing station density in already served areas.

Regionally, Uttar Pradesh (UP) emerged as the dominant force in the community radio sector, establishing 35 stations in 33 different districts over the five-year period. UP’s growth was particularly concentrated in 2022 and 2023, where it added 11 and 15 stations respectively. Similarly, Odisha showcased a significant surge, starting with just 2 stations in 2020 but expanding rapidly to 12 new stations in 2023, totaling 26 establishments for the entire period. In contrast, Maharashtra’s growth was highly concentrated in a single year, 2022, when it established 15 stations—the highest for any state in a single year—yet it recorded zero new stations in 2023 before adding 7 more in 2024.

The geographic distribution also highlights significant activity in states like Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Chhattisgarh maintained a steady pace, establishing 4 stations in 2020 and 4 again in 2023, reaching a total of 12 stations across 11 districts. Madhya Pradesh saw a sudden peak in 2023 with 6 new stations covering 5 districts, following several years of minimal activity. In the southern region, Tamil Nadu maintained a consistent presence, with its highest growth of 8 stations occurring in 2022. Meanwhile, Bihar showed a late-period acceleration, with 5 of its 7 new stations being established between 2023 and 2024. Other states like West Bengal followed a consistent growth curve, peaking in 2023 with 4 stations and covering a total of 9 districts over the period.

Despite these pockets of high activity, the data reveals a "digital divide" in community radio expansion across certain UTs and smaller states. Areas such as Goa, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Sikkim, and Tripura recorded zero new CRS establishment during the entire five-year window. Furthermore, states like Haryana and Jharkhand, which showed early promise in 2020 with 5 and 1 stations respectively, saw long periods of stagnation before recording smaller numbers in 2023. This disparity highlights the uneven adoption of community radio infrastructure across the Indian subcontinent. It is also observed that regions like the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Arunachal Pradesh only recorded their first station of this period in 2023.

A defining characteristic of the 2020–2024 expansion is the ratio of stations to districts. For the cumulative total, 212 stations were spread across 194 districts, maintaining a near 1:1 ratio. This ratio was most pronounced in 2024, where every one of the 28 new stations was situated in a distinct district. This pattern suggests a policy or institutional preference for diversifying coverage and ensuring that localized broadcasting reaches new administrative territories rather than duplicating services in existing ones. This trend is mirrored in states like Rajasthan, which established 14 stations across 11 districts, and Karnataka, which added 4 stations in 4 districts across the same period.

In conclusion, the data from 2020 to 2024 depicts a community radio landscape in India that is maturing and seeking universal district coverage. The 2023 peak suggests a high-water mark for administrative or community-led initiatives, while the 2024 data indicates a more targeted approach to geographic expansion. While large states like Uttar Pradesh and Odisha drive the national numbers, the lack of growth in smaller regions remains a point for further investigation. It is clear that community radio remains a vital, albeit regionally varied, component of the Indian media ecosystem.

Expanding a community radio network is like planting a forest across a diverse landscape. Initially, only a few saplings take root (2020-2021), but as the environment becomes more favorable, there is a massive growth spurt where trees begin appearing in almost every corner (2022-2023). By the final stage (2024), the focus shifts from rapid planting to carefully selecting the remaining open spots to ensure every part of the land has its own shade.

References

1. Pavarala, V., & Malik, K. K. (2007). Other Voices: The Struggle for Community Radio in India. Sage Publications.
2. Belavadi, V. (2014). Community Radio in India. Oxford University Press.
3. Manyozo, L. (2012). Media, Communication and Development: Three Approaches. Sage Publications.
4. Tabassum, R. (2015). Community Radio: A Tool for Community Empowerment. New Delhi Publishers.
5. Fraser, C., & Estrada, S. R. (2001). Community Radio Handbook. UNESCO.
6. Milan, S. (2013). Social Movements and Their Technologies: Wiring Social Change. Palgrave Macmillan.
7. Narayan, S. (2014). Community Radio in India: The Struggle for Participation. Routledge.
8. Banjaree, I., & Logan, S. (2008). Asian Communication Handbook. AMIC.
9. Jallov, B. (2012). Empowerment Radio: Voices for a Civilized Society. Empowerment Radio.
10. Malik, K. K. (2012). Our Media, Not Theirs: The Community Radio Movement in India. Sage India.

 

 

Sona FM: A companion of the hill people

 

What can a community radio do? Can you believe that it is providing road facilities, medical assistance and essential needs to the people living in the hills? Salem Sona FM is the only community media for the people of 36 villages located on the Yercaud hills. This radio station broadcasts for 16 hours a day and has a huge audience all over Salem district. I recently got the opportunity to attend the third anniversary of the radio station. 

The program was beautifully presented by Ilakkiya. Project Director Mr. Subramaniam coordinated the program very well. In his speech, the chairman of the Valliyappa Foundation, Mr. C. Valliyappa, directly listened to the needs of the audience and asked them to take notes from the program producers. In addition, he directly introduced all the announcers and program producers to the audience

 I am very happy that the Chairman is in close contact with Gyanpeeth award winner Akhilan, a former employee of Akashvani. It is noteworthy that this is one of the few community radio stations that is successfully operating in Tamil Nadu. 

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Special talk on Community Radio: International Scenario

 Grateful for the opportunity to deliver a  at BRIDGE 2025 — the National Seminar on Building Radio Initiatives for Development, Governance, and Empowerment.

The seminar, organized by Muthucharam Community Radio Station (90.4 MHz), SRMIST-KTR, served as a vibrant platform for dialogue and collaboration among policymakers, media professionals, and academics. The event highlighted critical issues like governance frameworks, content creation, licensing, and capacity building, underscoring community radio’s pivotal role in promoting transparency, inclusivity, and grassroots development.

Sharing insights on the international landscape of community radio, I emphasized how global practices and collaborative models can strengthen local empowerment and media diversity.

(Pictured: Moment from the seminar session.)

Seminar Unveils the Power of Radio Journalism

Dwaraka Doss Goverdhan Doss Vaishnav College’s PG Department of Journalism & Communication is proud to announce a seminar titled “The Voice Profession: Unlocking Radio Journalism Career” on 8th September 2025 at 2:30 PM, AV Room, Ganga Block.

The upcoming seminar aims to explore the dynamic world of radio journalism, offering students and aspiring professionals valuable insights into this vital media field. Attendees will learn from broadcasting professionals and gain expert guidance on building a successful career in radio journalism.

Key Highlights

- Understand radio journalism insights from an industry expert.

- Learn best practices in broadcast media.

- Receive personalized professional career guidance.

The seminar features Dr. T. Jaisakthivel, a renowned figure in journalism and mass communication, who will share his expertise and experience with the attendees. The event is intended for students of BA & MA Journalism and is open to all who wish to explore career opportunities in radio broadcasting.

Organized By

The event is coordinated by faculty members including Mr. P. Rajesh Kumar (Faculty Coordinator), Dr. A. Pragathi (Asst. Prof. & Head i/c), Dr. S. Santosh Baboo (President), and Dr. Ashok Kumar Mundhra (Secretary), with Dwaraka Doss Goverdhan Doss Vaishnav College committed to academic excellence and professional development in the field of journalism.

For further information, please visit the college website or contact the Journalism & Communication Department.

Dxers Guide - September 2025

Listening to shortwave radio stations during a lunar eclipse is important because eclipses cause significant changes in the Earth's ionosphere, which affects radio wave propagation. During an eclipse, the sudden reduction or blocking of sunlight temporarily alters ionization levels in the ionosphere, especially in the D and E layers. This change can improve the reflection and travel distance of shortwave radio waves, allowing signals that are usually weak or undetectable during the day to be received more clearly and over longer distances at that time.

Eclipses create a natural experiment for observing how the ionosphere responds to rapid changes in solar radiation. By listening to shortwave radio stations during an eclipse, researchers and radio enthusiasts can study how ionospheric properties affect radio signal strength, propagation, and fading. This helps improve understanding of radio communications critical for emergency responders, aviation, maritime navigation, and global communication. Specifically, the eclipse-induced "night-like" conditions temporarily reduce the ionospheric absorption of radio waves, enhancing the reception of distant shortwave broadcasts that are otherwise masked during daylight [1][2][3][4].

In summary, listening to shortwave radio during a moon or solar eclipse provides an opportunity to observe and study atmospheric and ionospheric changes that impact radio wave behavior and communication capabilities.

Citations:

[1] Audio eclipse may fill the sky - EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1021230

[2] “Observe” August's Eclipse with Your AM Radio - Sky & Telescope https://skyandtelescope.org/2017-total-solar-eclipse/how-to-hear-the-solar-eclipse/

[3] How Ham Radio Operators Do Eclipse Science https://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/ham-radio-eclipse-citizen-science/

[4] The Solar Eclipse and Ham Radio https://www.nutsvolts.com/magazine/article/the-solar-eclipse-and-ham-radio

[5] The odd way eclipses affect radio - BBC https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20231005-eclipses-do-odd-things-to-radio-waves-to-learn-more-an-army-of-american-amateurs-will-broadcast-during-the-next-ones

[6] Beyond DXing: Analyzing Medium Wave Propagation During the ... https://swling.com/blog/2025/02/beyond-dxing-analyzing-medium-wave-propagation-during-the-2023-annular-eclipse/

[7] Ride the Wave of Radio Astronomy During the Solar Eclipse https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/skywatching/ride-the-wave-of-radio-astronomy-during-the-solar-eclipse/

[8] How is it like to use radio during an eclipse? : r/HamRadio - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/HamRadio/comments/1k15jvc/how_is_it_like_to_use_radio_during_an_eclipse/

[9] Ham Radios Crowdsourced Ionospheric Science During Eclipse - Eos https://eos.org/articles/ham-radios-crowdsourced-ionospheric-science-during-eclipse

[10] Eclipse Radio: Several NASA-Funded Science Projects https://swling.com/blog/2024/02/eclipse-radio-several-nasa-funded-science-projects/

[11] Ham Radio Operators, We Need Your Help During Solar Eclipses! https://science.nasa.gov/get-involved/citizen-science/ham-radio-operators-we-need-your-help-during-solar-eclipses/

[12] NASA-Funded Science Projects Tuning In to 'Eclipse Radio' https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/skywatching/nasa-funded-science-projects-tuning-in-to-eclipse-radio/

[13] Sky and Telescope: “Observe” August's Eclipse with Your AM Radio https://swling.com/blog/2017/06/sky-and-telescope-observe-augusts-eclipse-with-your-am-radio/

[14] HamSCI Reminder: Contribute to ionospheric research during the ... https://swling.com/blog/2023/10/hamsci-reminder-contribute-to-ionospheric-research-during-the-october-14-2023-solar-eclipse/

[15] Eclipses do odd things to radio waves. An army of amateur ... https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/1716y1c/eclipses_do_odd_things_to_radio_waves_an_army_of/

[16] Monitoring radio reception during the eclipse https://www.ukssdc.ac.uk/ionosondes/eclipse/outline.html

[17] Effect of total lunar eclipse of 27th July 2018 on the D- ... https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0273117721007201

[18] Shortwave radio proves simple, powerful — and necessary - RedTech https://www.redtech.pro/shortwave-radio-proves-simple-powerful-and-necessary/

[19] Ham Radio Operators' Ionospheric Science During The ... https://hackaday.com/2023/10/31/ham-radio-operators-ionospheric-science-during-the-solar-eclipse/

A Radio Postcard Journey - 71

A Postcrossers Naren, recently sent a postcard featuring a unique image: the International AM/FM/LW Stereo Dual Cassette Recorder AK-21. The postcard, depicting a classic boombox with its dual cassette decks, sparked a wave of nostalgia online.

Adding to the retro charm, the cassette slots on the recorder are labeled with "Ilayaraja" - a likely reference to the popular music of the renowned Tamil  film composer.

The postcard, sent from Sholingur, a town in the Ranipet district of Tamil Nadu, India, has generated interest among vintage audio enthusiasts and fans of Ilayaraja's music alike. The image serves as a reminder of the era of cassette tapes and portable stereos, a time before digital music streaming.

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Article on Community Radio in Madras Musings

Just read a fascinating article on Community Radio, published by Madras Musings! 

A big thank you to Madras Musings and the author, Roshan Zahin, for shedding light on this important and engaging topic with me. 

It's wonderful to talk more about how community radio serves and connects people right here in our city.

If you'd like to read the full article,

you can find the link below! 👇

https://madrasmusings.com/vol-35-no-3/a-voice-for-the-voiceless-chennais-community-radio-service/

Or download this issue here

https://madrasmusings.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/MM-Vol.-XXXV-No.-3.pdf

Celebrate the Legacy of Wireless Communication Pioneer with Limited Edition Postcards

Postally Postcards Launches Special Set of 7 Cards for Guglielmo Marconi's Birth Anniversary

April 5, 2025 — In celebration of the birth anniversary of Guglielmo Marconi, the inventor of wireless telegraphy and a pioneer of modern radio communication, Postally Postcards proudly unveils a special edition set of 7 uniquely designed postcards. Marconi, born on April 25, 1874, is commemorated globally on his birthday, with the Saturday closest to it observed as International Marconi Day.

Each postcard in this collector’s set features distinctive artwork and historical imagery capturing Marconi’s groundbreaking contributions to wireless communication. Designed to inspire radio enthusiasts, collectors, and history buffs alike, the postcards are both a tribute and a visual journey through Marconi’s revolutionary work.

Set Details:

7 exclusive postcard designs

Price: ₹70 (excluding postage)

Printed by: Postally Postcards

Celebrate the legacy of a true innovator and share the story of Marconi with these beautifully crafted cards — perfect for collectors or as gifts to fellow wireless enthusiasts.

For more details or to place an order, WhatsApp the number mentioned in the poster.

BUY NOW and mark this International Marconi Day with a touch of history.

Stay connected. Celebrate innovation. Postally Postcards