CBSE to launch community radio station to enhance student and teacher engagement

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is planning to launch its own community radio station to connect with students, teachers, and other stakeholders, officials have confirmed.

The move was cleared during the board’s recent Governing Body meeting, where it was decided that an application for a broadcasting license will be initiated.

"The proposal to set up a community radio station was approved by the board's Governing Body. "It was decided that consultative meetings will be held in the next six months with stakeholders and experts for preparing and processing the detailed application for a community radio license," a senior CBSE official said.

Financial details of the project will also be worked out before the application is finalized.

CBSE already operates “Shiksha Vani,” a podcast that shares academic content for classes 9 to 12 in line with the NCERT curriculum.

Available on the Play Store for Android users, the platform has released around 400 episodes so far.

"The modalities of the content, which will be broadcast on the community radio station, will be worked out once the license is procured," the official added.

Community radio serves as a third tier of broadcasting, separate from public service and commercial radio, and is designed to be run by local communities.

These low-power stations give space to local voices, especially from marginalized groups, on topics such as education, health, agriculture, and nutrition.

Broadcasting in regional languages and dialects allows for greater community engagement.

India currently has 540 licensed community radio stations, most operated by educational institutions, NGOs, and other non-profit organizations.

The government has been promoting their growth, particularly in rural and remote areas, through various programs and schemes.