Akashvani is celebrating its 90 years today. This day, on June 8th 1936, the Indian State Broadcasting Service was renamed All India Radio (AIR). This red letter day marks a special moment in the cultural, information and broadcasting history of the country, where a voice was born that would echo through generations.
Post-independence, AIR expanded rapidly, adopting the name Akashvani in 1956. Today, Akashvani operates 591 stations, reaching 98 percent of India’s population, broadcasting in 23 languages and 146 dialects. Akashvani’s External Services Division broadcasts to over 100 countries, projecting India’s voice globally and connecting with the diaspora. Living up to its noble ideals of Bahujan Hitaya, Bahujan Sukhaya, the News Services Division (NSD) of AIR strives to provide news and views to every dweller in this vast country in varied terrains, 24X7, in all major languages and dialects, while adhering to highest professional ethics and standards in Radio Broadcasting.
