MIB: Prasar Bharati secures Rs 14,421 crore; Doordarshan records 372 crore viewers

Dr L Murugan told Parliament that Prasar Bharati prioritises a 'Nation First' approach

by e4m Staff
Published: Feb 11, 2026 1:31 PM | 1 min read

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has told Parliament that Prasar Bharati received approximately Rs 14,421 crore in budgetary support between 2020–21 and 2024–25.

Of the Rs 14,421 crore given over five years, funds were used for salaries of government staff at Prasar Bharati and for upgrades under the BIND scheme. With a budget of Rs 2,539.61 crore for 2021–26, BIND aims to modernise studios, transmission facilities, and digital systems for Doordarshan and All India Radio.

Over the same period, its flagship television network Doordarshan registered a cumulative gross unique viewership of 372.8 crore between 2021 and January 2026, based on estimates by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC). Officials noted that this number shows overall reach and does not necessarily mean a drop in audience engagement.

Dr L Murugan, Union Minister of State for I&B, told Parliament that Prasar Bharati’s viewership has not sharply declined, responding to a question from DMK MP T R Baalu about competition from private TV and radio channels.

Murugan also said Prasar Bharati, as India’s public service broadcaster, prioritises a “Nation First” approach over ratings or profits. Doordarshan and Akashvani are required to serve remote, rural, tribal, and LWE-affected areas often not commercially viable for private broadcasters, the ministry emphasised.