A total of 795 television channels have been granted permission by Information and Broadcasting ministry to uplink from the country in the news and non-news categories while 235 applications were still pending for inter-ministerial clearances, Lok Sabha was informed today.
I&B minister Prakash Javadekar, in reply to a written question in the Lok Sabha, also said during the last three years and current year 200 applications were received for new channels in various languages, out of which 105 were for Malayalam and Kannada language channels.
In reply to another question on whether Doordarshan proposes to launch a 'Krishi' channel devoted exclusively to agriculture and farmers, Javadekar responded in the affirmative and said the details were being worked out in consultation with the stakeholders.
"No definite time frame can be fixed as of now as the start of the channel will depend on the availability of resources and manpower after the details have been worked out," he said.
Responding to another question on Doordarshan, Javadekar said it was digitising its analogue terrestrial network.
"Consequently the number of digitised channels would go up. DD would thereafter be in a position to invite private free-to-air TV channels for meaningful business plan in this regard," he added.
