Broadcasting services in India were largely controlled by government and a demand was raised by various section of the society that government should give autonomy to public broadcast in India like other countries.
The Parliament of India passed an Act to grant this autonomy in 1990, which was enacted on 15 September 1997.
The Prasar Bharati Act provides for establishment of a Broadcasting Corporation, to be known as Prasar Bharati, which grants autonomy to All India Radio and Doordarshan.
The primary duty of the Prasar Bharati Corporation is to organise and conduct public broadcasting services to inform, educate and entertain the public and to ensure a balanced development of broadcasting on radio and television.
Chairperson of Prasar Bharati – Dr. A Surya Prakash