Question : EDUSAT

(a) whether the Government has received any request from Gujarat for allocation of bandwidth in Ku band for broadcast of educational/skill development programmes on DTH under EDUSAT;

(b) if so, the current status of the request and since when it has been lying pending with the Government;

(c) whether the Government has assessed the significance of EDUSAT and if so, the details in this regard; and

(d) the steps taken/proposed to be taken to grant necessary permission to start these programmes?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PG & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

(a) Yes Madam.

(b) Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics

(BISAG), Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat requested for one Ku band transponder on February 15, 2011 for satellite communication based education and training programme. Based on availability of transponders for allocation in INSAT/GSAT satellites, one Ku band transponder has been allotted to BISAG on February 1, 2012.

(c) Government has undertaken EDUSAT programme after assessing the significance and potential of satellite based education in the country. The satellite based education is of greater significance in India to reach quality education at different levels, in different languages to the entire country including rural/remote areas.

(d) In order to start the satellite based educational programmes, Government has taken steps to establish an appropriate Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) under the aegis of Prasar Bharati for delivering the educational content through DTH channels