(a) whether the Government is aware that news and current affairs programmes under the sponsored category in Regional Kendras of Doordarshan has been discontinued;
(b) if so, the reasons therefore; and
(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken to re-start the said programmes?
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI P.R. DASMUNSI)
(a) & (b) Prasar Bharati, an autonomous statutory corporation, has informed that News and Current Affairs programmes under the sponsored category in regional kendras of Doordarshan, have been discontinued in accordance with a decision taken by the Prasar Bharati Board to undertake all news bulletins as an in-house activity.
(c) Prasar Bharati has informed that no such proposal is under consideration.