The expansion of Community Radio Stations (CRS) in India from 2020 to 2024 represents a significant period of decentralized media growth, with a total of 212 new stations established across 194 different districts. This study, formatted for scholarly review, examines the spatial and temporal trends of these installations using the data provided by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. While the global communication landscape shifted during these years, India’s community radio sector demonstrated a non-linear but robust upward trajectory, peaking significantly in 2023 before stabilizing in 2024. The methodology for this analysis involves a quantitative review of Annexure – I from (https://mib.gov.in/sites/default/files/2025-12/list-of-newly-established-community-radio-stations-crs-for-the-last-five-years-state-and-district-wise-1.pdf), which details the annual establishment of CRS and the number of districts covered across 36 States and Union Territories (UTs). It should be noted that while the statistical data is drawn directly from the sources, any discussion regarding the theoretical "last mile" communication or policy motivations is based on general academic knowledge and may require independent verification.
The national temporal pattern reveals that the period began with modest activity, seeing 20 new stations in 2020 and 24 in 2021. However, 2022 served as a turning point where expansion more than doubled to 59 new stations. This momentum culminated in a historic peak in 2023, during which 81 new stations were established across 75 districts. By 2024, the rate of establishment moderated to 28 stations, though it achieved a notable geographic precision by covering 28 unique districts. This trajectory suggests a strategic emphasis on expanding the reach of community radio rather than merely increasing station density in already served areas.
Regionally, Uttar Pradesh (UP) emerged as the dominant force in the community radio sector, establishing 35 stations in 33 different districts over the five-year period. UP’s growth was particularly concentrated in 2022 and 2023, where it added 11 and 15 stations respectively. Similarly, Odisha showcased a significant surge, starting with just 2 stations in 2020 but expanding rapidly to 12 new stations in 2023, totaling 26 establishments for the entire period. In contrast, Maharashtra’s growth was highly concentrated in a single year, 2022, when it established 15 stations—the highest for any state in a single year—yet it recorded zero new stations in 2023 before adding 7 more in 2024.
The geographic distribution also highlights significant activity in states like Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Chhattisgarh maintained a steady pace, establishing 4 stations in 2020 and 4 again in 2023, reaching a total of 12 stations across 11 districts. Madhya Pradesh saw a sudden peak in 2023 with 6 new stations covering 5 districts, following several years of minimal activity. In the southern region, Tamil Nadu maintained a consistent presence, with its highest growth of 8 stations occurring in 2022. Meanwhile, Bihar showed a late-period acceleration, with 5 of its 7 new stations being established between 2023 and 2024. Other states like West Bengal followed a consistent growth curve, peaking in 2023 with 4 stations and covering a total of 9 districts over the period.
Despite these pockets of high activity, the data reveals a "digital divide" in community radio expansion across certain UTs and smaller states. Areas such as Goa, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Sikkim, and Tripura recorded zero new CRS establishment during the entire five-year window. Furthermore, states like Haryana and Jharkhand, which showed early promise in 2020 with 5 and 1 stations respectively, saw long periods of stagnation before recording smaller numbers in 2023. This disparity highlights the uneven adoption of community radio infrastructure across the Indian subcontinent. It is also observed that regions like the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Arunachal Pradesh only recorded their first station of this period in 2023.
A defining characteristic of the 2020–2024 expansion is the ratio of stations to districts. For the cumulative total, 212 stations were spread across 194 districts, maintaining a near 1:1 ratio. This ratio was most pronounced in 2024, where every one of the 28 new stations was situated in a distinct district. This pattern suggests a policy or institutional preference for diversifying coverage and ensuring that localized broadcasting reaches new administrative territories rather than duplicating services in existing ones. This trend is mirrored in states like Rajasthan, which established 14 stations across 11 districts, and Karnataka, which added 4 stations in 4 districts across the same period.
In conclusion, the data from 2020 to 2024 depicts a community radio landscape in India that is maturing and seeking universal district coverage. The 2023 peak suggests a high-water mark for administrative or community-led initiatives, while the 2024 data indicates a more targeted approach to geographic expansion. While large states like Uttar Pradesh and Odisha drive the national numbers, the lack of growth in smaller regions remains a point for further investigation. It is clear that community radio remains a vital, albeit regionally varied, component of the Indian media ecosystem.
Expanding a community radio network is like planting a forest across a diverse landscape. Initially, only a few saplings take root (2020-2021), but as the environment becomes more favorable, there is a massive growth spurt where trees begin appearing in almost every corner (2022-2023). By the final stage (2024), the focus shifts from rapid planting to carefully selecting the remaining open spots to ensure every part of the land has its own shade.
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