India’s public service broadcaster Doordarshan is observing its 67th foundation day today. Its journey began in 1959 as an experimental television service operating under All India Radio. Over the years, Doordarshan has developed into an important medium for sharing information, preserving culture and promoting national unity. Through satellite and Direct to Home services, its reach now extends to almost the entire population of India.
Doordarshan was established on 15th September 1959, marking the start of India’s television broadcasting journey. The first broadcast was inaugurated by the then President, Dr Rajendra Prasad, on the same day. The organisation remained under All India Radio until 1975. A major change took place on 1st April 1976, when Doordarshan was separated from All India Radio and received operational independence, allowing it to further expand its network and reach.
Colour television was introduced by Doordarshan in 1982 during the Asian Games held in Delhi. This development significantly changed the viewing experience and helped increase its popularity among audiences. Another important milestone came on 23rd September 1997, when Prasar Bharati was established as an autonomous corporation under the Prasar Bharati Act, 1990. This brought Doordarshan and All India Radio together within a unified public broadcasting system while giving the organisation a more professional structure.
Today, Doordarshan operates a network of 35 satellite channels and 66 Studio Centers. Its programming caters to different linguistic and cultural communities across the country, with content available in more than 24 languages and several dialects.
Doordarshan has also been home to several memorable television programmes, including Ramayana, Mahabharat, Hum Log, Buniyaad, Chanakya, Malgudi Days, Shaktimaan, Chitrahaar, Fauji, Circus and Udaan. These programmes became widely recognised for their distinctive content and entertainment value while Doordarshan continued its important role in creating public awareness.