Read the passage and answer the question that follows:
Public Broadcasting in India
Public broadcasting has gone through multiple changes in India since the age of its inception.Radio broadcasting began here in early 1920s. Later, in 1936, the All India Radio started its operation. Lionel Fielden was instrumental in developing the radio programming on AIR.Television broadcasting started in the late 1950s. Earlier, television was a part of AIR but by 1970, television centres were opened in various parts of the country other than Delhi. In 1976, Doordarshan, which was working under All India Radio, became an independent and separate department. Between August 1975 and July 1976, an experiment called the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) was conducted. Under this programme, the Indian government used the American satellite ATS-6 to broadcast educational programmes to several villages of six states in India. Community TV sets were distributed and educational programmes were broadcast. Entertainment was also a part of these programmes in the form of dance, music, drama, folk songs, etc. In the 1990s, television and radio were brought together under Prasar Bharati.
From the passage, we can gather information about the evolution of broadcasting in India. Television broadcasting began in the late 1950s, and initially, television was part of All India Radio (AIR). However, by 1970, distinct television centers were established in diverse parts of the country beyond Delhi. This means that 1970 is the correct answer, distinguishing it from the options provided.
Year | Event |
---|---|
Late 1950s | Television broadcasting began |
1970 | Television centers opened across the country |
1976 | Doordarshan became independent |
The question is regarding the abbreviation SITE, which relates to the context of public broadcasting in India. SITE stands for Satellite Instructional Television Experiment.
The comprehension passage provides context for this experiment. Between August 1975 and July 1976, the SITE program was conducted by the Indian government. Utilizing the American satellite ATS-6, educational programs were broadcasted to villages across six Indian states. This initiative aimed to distribute community TV sets and provide educational content, complemented by entertainment such as dance, music, drama, and folk songs.
SITE stands for Satellite Instructional Television Experiment, as mentioned in the passage. It was an experimental program conducted between August 1975 and July 1976, where educational content was broadcast to rural villages in India using the American satellite ATS-6.
The question asks about the year Doordarshan became an independent and separate department. The passage provided offers detailed information about the development of public broadcasting in India, specifically mentioning the timeline of events related to All India Radio and television broadcasting. The key detail from the passage states: "In 1976, Doordarshan, which was working under All India Radio, became an independent and separate department."
Therefore, the correct year when Doordarshan became independent is 1976.
In order to determine the year when Doordarshan became an independent and separate department, we need to refer to the historical context of public broadcasting in India:
Television in India began as a part of All India Radio in the late 1950s. Over time, as the medium grew in popularity and importance, there was a recognized need for television to operate independently. By 1970, television centers were being established in various parts of the country, indicating its expansion beyond a single entity's scope.
Crucially, it was in 1976 that Doordarshan was separated from All India Radio and became its own independent department. This transition marked a significant development in the evolution of Indian broadcasting, signifying the growth and establishment of television as a primary medium for communication and entertainment.
Drawing from this historical understanding, 1976 is indeed the correct answer.
The passage discusses the history of public broadcasting in India, highlighting significant developments such as the inception of radio broadcasting in the 1920s and television in the late 1950s. It mentions that in an experiment conducted between August 1975 and July 1976 known as the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE), the Indian government utilized the American satellite ATS-6 to broadcast educational programmes to various villages across six states in India. These programs were shown on community TV sets distributed as part of this initiative. Entertainment in the form of music and drama was also included, but the primary focus was on educational content.
Therefore, the types of programs aired on community TV sets, as mentioned in the passage, were Educational.
Under the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE), the following programs were aired on community TV sets in rural villages across six Indian states:
Educational Programs – Designed to teach subjects like agriculture, health, hygiene, and family planning.
The passage discusses the history of public broadcasting in India, highlighting key developments such as the initiation of radio and television, the establishment of Doordarshan, and various governmental programs aimed at education and entertainment. One notable initiative was the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE), which included educational and entertainment content broadcast to several villages using the American satellite ATS-6.
This context makes it clear that elements like dance, drama, music, and folk songs were grouped under the category of Entertainment, as they provided a cultural and recreational break alongside educational content.
Dance and drama were broadcast under the entertainment category of the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE).
As mentioned in the passage:
"Entertainment was also a part of these programmes in the form of dance, music, drama, folk songs, etc."
While SITE primarily focused on educational content, cultural performances like dance, drama, and music were included to make the broadcasts more engaging for rural audiences.