Why In News?

Prasar Bharati Engineer won the ABU Broadcast Engineering Excellence Award 2026  at the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) events in Colombo, Sri Lanka.  

What Is The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union?

  • Origin: The ABU is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation established in 1964. 

  • Purpose: It advances broadcasting and media cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region. 

  • Membership: It connects about 224 member organisations in 66 countries, reaching audiences across half the globe.  

  • Headquarters: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

  • India’s Role: Founder member of the ABU since 1964, through All India Radio (Akashvani) and Doordarshan.  

Functions

  • Content Sharing: Members exchange news, programmes and sports content through ABU platforms. 

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  • Technical Cooperation: It sets technical standards and supports training for broadcast engineers.  

  • Shared Challenges: It helps members tackle common issues such as digital transition, disinformation and disaster broadcasting.  

How Is The ABU Governed?

General Assembly

  • Supreme Body: The General Assembly is the ABU’s highest body, with all powers needed to achieve its objectives under its Statutes.  

  • Composition: It includes all Full, Additional Full and Associate members.  

Administrative Council

  • Board Of Directors: The Administrative Council acts as the ABU’s board of directors.  

  • Composition: It has 18 Full and Additional Full members, elected at the annual General Assembly for a three-year term. 

  • Role: It meets twice a year to decide policy, review finances and consider current issues.  

What Is Prasar Bharati?

Prasar Bharati is India’s official state-owned public service broadcaster. It operates as an autonomous statutory body established under the Prasar Bharati Act of 1990.

Key Constituents

  • Akashvani (All India Radio): The national public radio broadcaster delivering news, cultural programming, and regional services across India.

  • Doordarshan (DD): The national public television network providing news, entertainment, and educational broadcasts.

  • WAVES: Prasar Bharati's official over-the-top (OTT) media streaming platform.

  • Prasar Bharati News Service (PBNS): The internal and expanded digital news gathering and wire service.  

Core Mission and Structure

  • Headquarters: New Delhi 

  • Mandate: To provide fair, balanced, and unbiased information, education, and entertainment to the public free from government propaganda or commercial bias.  

  • Governance: Managed by a board consisting of a Chairman, an Executive Member, financial and personnel members, part-time members, and director-generals.  

Source: INDIANBROADCASTINGWORLD

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements about the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU):

1. It was established in 1964 and has its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

2. It is a specialised agency of the United Nations.

3. Its Administrative Council members are elected by the General Assembly for a three-year term.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Answer: (b)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) was established in 1964 and has its secretariat headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Statement 2 is incorrect: ABU is not a specialized agency of the United Nations. It is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental professional association of broadcasting organizations.

Statement 3 is correct: The Administrative Council—the union's governing body—consists of Full and Additional Full members elected by the General Assembly for a three-year term.