Rs 4,551 cr for I&B Ministry; funds for Prasar Bharati

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has been allocated Rs 4551.94 crore in the Union Budget, with a substantial amount marked for Prasar Bharati, India’s public broadcaster, besides funds for talent development in animation, visual effects and gaming and supporting the community radio movement.

In the Budget 2026-27 presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha on Sunday, Rs 1476.83 crore has been allocated for information and publicity, against the revised estimate of Rs 1207.67 crore marked in 2025-26.

A total amount of Rs 4551.94 crore has been allocated for the Information and Broadcasting Ministry as against the revised estimate of Rs 6103.02 crore for 2025-26. The Budget for the coming fiscal year allocated Rs 2291.88 crore for Prasar Bharati and the amount will be spent for salary and pension, among other expenses.

The Budget also covers expenditure of the Government media units like the Central Bureau of Communication, Press Information Bureau, Publications Division, New Media Wing, Electronic Media Monitoring Centre, among others.

A sum of Rs 509.24 crore has been allocated for the Broadcasting Infrastructure Network Development, while the revised estimate for it in 2025-26 was Rs 550 crore.

The scheme implemented through Prasar Bharati aims at digitalisation of the AIR Network, upgradation of the capacity of the DTH platform to accommodate more channels and enriching viewers’ experience. An amount of Rs 344.55 crore has been allocated for the development of communication and dissemination of filmic content, under which the Government promotes and preserves Indian cinema by means of film festivals, production of new films and documentaries. The revised estimate in 2025-26 was Rs 423.89 crore.

An amount of Rs 111.22 crore has also been allocated for the Northeastern areas for the social services sector.