All India Radio

All India Radio, also known as AIR and Akashvani, is a state-owned entity headquartered in India, functioning as a division of Prasar Bharati and a tier 1 media tech buyer. Founded in 1936 and employing approximately 10,270 individuals, the company specializes in broadcast television and radio. It is the national public service radio broadcaster of India and a foundational division of Prasar Bharati, recognized as one of the largest radio networks globally. Headquartered at Akashvani Bhawan in New Delhi, its infrastructure spans hundreds of broadcasting centers across the country, utilizing a matrix of Medium Wave (MW), Short Wave (SW), and Frequency Modulation (FM) transmitters. Bound by its public service mandate to inform, educate, and entertain, All India Radio commands an approximate national geographic penetration of 92% and reaches 99.1% of the total Indian population. It broadcasts programming, national policy data, and emergency updates across more than 23 languages and 179 localized dialects, funding its expansive physical network via central government budget allocations paired with public-sector commercial ad airtime sales.