{"id":132431,"date":"2026-11-10T15:06:27","date_gmt":"2026-11-10T09:36:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=132431"},"modified":"2026-11-10T15:06:27","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T09:36:27","slug":"public-service-broadcasting-day-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/public-service-broadcasting-day-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Public Service Broadcasting Day 2026, Date, Theme, History, Significance"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>Public Service Broadcasting Day 2026<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, also known as <\/span><b>Jan Prasaran Divas<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, is observed annually on <\/span><b>12 November<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to commemorate <\/span><b>Mahatma Gandhi\u2019s historic radio address<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> through <\/span><b>All India Radio (AIR)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in <\/span><b>1947<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The day highlights the importance of <\/span><b>public service broadcasting<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in spreading awareness, providing <\/span><b>reliable information<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and serving society.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Public Service Broadcasting in India Objectives<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Service Broadcasting aims to provide <\/span><b>reliable information<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, promote <\/span><b>education<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and ensure that broadcasting serves the <\/span><b>interests of society<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> rather than commercial interests.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Public Awareness<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: To provide <\/span><b>accurate, unbiased and accessible information<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> about <\/span><b>government policies, public welfare schemes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and important national developments.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Education and Social Development<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: To spread awareness about <\/span><b>education, healthcare, sanitation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and social issues, particularly in <\/span><b>rural and underserved areas<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>National Unity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: To promote <\/span><b>communal harmony, national integration<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and respect for India\u2019s <\/span><b>diverse languages, cultures and traditions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Inclusive Communication<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: To ensure that information reaches <\/span><b>all sections of society<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, including <\/span><b>marginalised communities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and people living in <\/span><b>remote regions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Democratic Values<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: To encourage <\/span><b>informed public participation, responsible communication<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>accountability<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> through reliable broadcasting.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Public Service Broadcasting Day 2026 Background<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Service Broadcasting Day marks a significant moment in <\/span><b>India\u2019s broadcasting history<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> when <\/span><b>Mahatma Gandhi<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> used radio to reach people affected by the <\/span><b>Partition of India<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Historical Event<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: On <\/span><b>12 November 1947<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/mahatma-gandhi\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Mahatma Gandhi<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> visited the <\/span><b>Broadcasting House of All India Radio<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in <\/span><b>New Delhi<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for his <\/span><b>first and only live broadcast<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from an AIR studio.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Address to Refugees<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: He addressed more than <\/span><b>2 lakh displaced people<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> staying at a <\/span><b>refugee camp in Kurukshetra, Haryana<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, following the Partition of India.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Deepavali Broadcast<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The address took place on <\/span><b>Deepavali<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as Gandhi could not personally visit the refugees. Freedom fighter <\/span><b>Rajkumari Amrit Kaur<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> accompanied him.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Gandhi\u2019s Experience<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Initially hesitant to use radio, Gandhi agreed to the broadcast and later described radio as a medium possessing <\/span><b>extraordinary power<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Official Recognition<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: In <\/span><b>2000<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, then Union Information and Broadcasting Minister <\/span><b>Sushma Swaraj<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> announced that <\/span><b>12 November<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> would be observed as Public Service Broadcasting Day. The observance was formally recognised in <\/span><b>2001<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Public Service Broadcasting Day 2026 Theme<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Service Broadcasting Day promotes the values of <\/span><b>responsible broadcasting, social service<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the use of media for <\/span><b>public welfare<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Theme for 2026<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: <\/span><b>No separate nationwide official theme<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has been confirmed. However, the 2026 commemoration at the <\/span><b>India International Centre<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> includes a discussion titled <\/span><b>\u201cBroadcasting as a Social Contract.\u201d<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Focus on Public Responsibility<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The discussion highlights broadcasting\u2019s <\/span><b>responsibility towards citizens<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the importance of serving <\/span><b>public interests<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Remembering Usha Mehta<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The programme also recalls freedom fighter <\/span><b>Usha Mehta\u2019s<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> contribution to <\/span><b>underground radio<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> during the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/quit-india-movement\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Quit India Movement<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and her arrest on <\/span><b>12 November 1942<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Commemorative Events<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The programme scheduled for <\/span><b>12 November 2026<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> includes a tribute at the <\/span><b>Gandhi-King Memorial Plaza<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, followed by discussions at the <\/span><b>C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in New Delhi.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Promoting Gandhian Values<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The observance encourages broadcasters to uphold <\/span><b>truth, social responsibility, inclusiveness<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>public service<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Role of All India Radio in Public Service Broadcasting<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><b>All India Radio (AIR)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, also known as <\/span><b>Akashvani<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, has played an important role in connecting citizens, spreading information and promoting India\u2019s <\/span><b>cultural heritage<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Public Information<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: AIR broadcasts <\/span><b>national news, government announcements, educational programmes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and information about <\/span><b>public welfare initiatives<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Rural Development<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Through <\/span><b>regional and local programmes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, AIR provides information on <\/span><b>agriculture, healthcare, education<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and other issues affecting <\/span><b>rural communities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Cultural Preservation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: It promotes <\/span><b>regional languages, folk music, literature<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>traditional art forms<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, strengthening India\u2019s cultural diversity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Historical Importance<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: AIR broadcast <\/span><b>Gandhi\u2019s historic address<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on <\/span><b>12 November 1947<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, establishing a significant example of <\/span><b>broadcasting in the service of humanity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Bapu Studio<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: In <\/span><b>2023<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the historic studio associated with Gandhi\u2019s address was dedicated as <\/span><b>Bapu Studio<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, preserving <\/span><b>recordings, photographs and memorabilia<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> connected with his visit.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Annual Celebrations<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Every year, Akashvani organises <\/span><b>special programmes, devotional music performances<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>commemorative events<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to celebrate Public Service Broadcasting Day and promote <\/span><b>Gandhian ideals<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Public Service Broadcasting Day 2026, observed on 12 November, commemorates Mahatma Gandhi&#8217;s 1947 All India Radio address and highlights broadcasting&#8217;s role in public welfare.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":132481,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[8485,8483,11413,11412,11411],"class_list":["post-132431","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-general-studies","tag-important-day","tag-important-days-2026","tag-public-service-broadcasting","tag-public-service-broadcasting-day","tag-public-service-broadcasting-day-2026","no-featured-image-padding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132431","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=132431"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132431\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":132545,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132431\/revisions\/132545"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/132481"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=132431"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=132431"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=132431"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}