AIR Full Form

What is the full form of AIR?

The full form of AIR is the All India Radio. AIR is the national public radio broadcaster of India, which is owned and operated by the Government of India. Since 1956, it is often referred to as 'Akashvani'. It is India's most prominent national public broadcast, coming under Prakash Bharati. It is the leading radio broadcast in the world, which respects the different spoken languages of the country and represents the scope of cultural & socio-economic variety. The headquarters of AIR is located in New Delhi, India.

This Story also Contains

1. What is the full form of AIR?
2. History of All India Radio (AIR)
3. Rise of All India Radio(AIR)
4. Facts about All India Radio (AIR)
5. Future of All India Radio (AIR)

The station was initially started for domestic programs only, but after the Independence, it got involved in broadcasting to other countries. Its main target is to promote Indian culture abroad and inform people about facts related to India. Special programs are also for farmers, fishermen, women, and children.

The legacy of AIR is immense, and it has served the people of India for more than seven decades. It has evolved with the changing times and has adapted itself to new technologies. With its vast reach, it has been able to connect with people from different types of jobs and different levels of society and serve them in the best possible way.

History of All India Radio (AIR)

• The first broadcast of All India Radio started in 1923 with the assistance of two private stations, Calcutta Radio Club and Radio Club of Bombay.

• The first controller of broadcasting All India Radio in India was Lionel Fielden. He has controlled it for five years.

• The signature for All India Radio was composed by Walter Kaufmann, the director of music at AIR.

• In 1942, AIR was started with a broadcasting station in Bombay, and another station in Calcutta was also inaugurated in 1944.

• There were six radio stations during Indian Independence,i.e.1947. These were in Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, Madras, Tiruchirapalli, and Lucknow.

• After 1947, a new era of broadcasting began for All India Radio.

• In August 1955, All India Radio became an autonomous corporation.

• From 1956 onwards, AIR was called Akashvani.

• On April 1st, 1964, new frequencies were started in Delhi on the medium wave band.

• On April 1st, 1976, FM broadcasting was started with the Vividh Bharati Service.

Rise of All India Radio(AIR)

• From the 1960s to the 1980s, AIR saw tremendous growth due to the absence of other forms of entertainment.

• During the 1960s, India had cinema and Radio only.

• That's why, currently, AIR has a phenomenal reach of 92 per cent and 415 dedicated channels broadcast in 23 languages.

• AIR also operates around 18 FM channels called AIR FM Rainbow, which target the urban audience with excellent daily content.

Facts about All India Radio (AIR)

• A musical instrument called Harmonium was banned on AIR between 1940-1971. The instrument was dubbed un-Indian and incapable of handling higher notes.

• For the first time, commercials were launched on November 1st, 1967.

• Amitabh Bachchan was rejected for a job by All India Radio.

• In April 1976, Doordarshan was separated from All India Radio.

• In 2012, Bangladesh recognized Akashvani for contributing to the war of 1971.

Future of All India Radio (AIR)

• All India Radio has played a decisive role in reaching out to every corner of the country.

• It has registered its footprint even in places where newspapers are difficult to reach.

• It has been a news program and a social engineering tool to shape mass opinion on sensitive issues in India.

• It is gradually adopting modern technology and making its entire content digitized.

• It is switching from Analog signalling to Digital signalling in a phased manner.

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