Government To Launch A Digital Platform To Challenge Anti-India Narrative In Foreign Media

Narendra Modi government is planning to launch an official digital platform which, as reported by The Economic Times, will “challenge the anti-India narrative in foreign media through hard and compelling commentary” and present “India's point of view and perspective on global events on the Internet”.

The idea, cleared by the Prasar Bharati Board, was discussed by a committee that included Prasar Bharati board members Sunil Alagh and Shashi Shekar Vempati, Swarajya magazine editorial director R Jagannathan, University of San Francisco professor Vamsee Juluri and Prasar Bharati interim chief executive Rajeev Singh.

According to Prasar Bharati chairman A Surya Prakash, who headed the panel, the idea to launch a global news channel was first discussed by the United Progressive Alliance government, but it could not take off the drawing board.

"It couldn't happen earlier for whatever reason. But this is the right time to have a global media presence," Surya Prakash was quoted by ET as saying.

Prasar Bharati’s report on the issue proposes the creation of a platform “through an appropriate corporate structure under the Companies Act, 2013, that will ensure both financial autonomy and global competitiveness”. The aim of the digital platform will be to become a “global news brand for the voice of India”.

According to ET’s report, the goal of this digital platform over a three-year period will be to reach 10 million to 100 million page views a month, 1 million mobile app downloads, and 1 million YouTube subscribers.