Liaisoning with ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Application Form for NEW CRS and getting Letter of Intent (LOI)
The eligible applicant is required to apply in the prescribed application form for a grant of permission for setting up of Community Radio Station(CRS) and submit 5 sets of all the required documents, preferably through speed post.
Applications shall be invited by the Ministry of I&B once every year through a national advertisement for the establishment of Community Radio Stations. The applicants shall be required to apply in the prescribed application form along with a processing fee of Rs. 2500/-.
The Community Radio Cell (CRS Cell) of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) scrutinizes the form & if found in order, seeks clearances/comments on the application from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of Defence (MOD)[Only in case of Private organization/ institutions] & WPC wing of DOT under Ministry of Communication.
Government Universities, Deemed Universities (Central and State), Government Colleges, Government Schools, and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (run by Government) will have single window clearance. No separate clearance shall be necessary. A meeting of the Interministerial Committee shall be convened to consider applications from such organizations. After approval by Secretary, I&B, a Letter of Intent (Lol) shall be issued.
Note: This Process takes time but we have a great relationship with Mib officials. Due to this good relationship, Mark helps their clients to get LOI in a limited time period.
Grant of Permission Agreement (GOPA)
The Grant for Permission Agreement (GOPA) is an agreement between the permission holder and the Government of India laying down the terms and conditions of broadcast and programming. The license holder is supposed to abide by these terms and conditions while broadcasting. The permit holder has to submit a bank guarantee for 5 Years of Rs. 25,000/- while signing the GOPA agreement.
Take two copies of the GOPA format on two separate stamp papers worth Rs 100 each. Please ensure that the printout on the stamp paper should be taken from where the agreement is starting and the cover page of GOPA should be a normal printout.
Make a set of all the documents and get it signed and sealed by
the organization and submit it to:
Deputy Director (CRS), Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, ‘A’ Wing, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi – 110 001.
Once the applicant has signed the GOPA the Community Radio Station can be put on test transmission.
Note: The Process in GOPA takes time but we have a great relationship with Mib officials. Due to this good relationship, Mark helps their clients to sign GOPA in a limited time period.
Guidelines for Advertisements in CRS
The organizations having licenses for setting up Community Radio Stations (CRS) shall be considered impaneled with the Bureau of Outreach and Communication (BOC).
All the organizations having licenses for setting up CRS shall be listed on the website of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the same shall be updated on a monthly basis by the Ministry.
Rate of Advertisements
The rate of advertisement for impaneled organizations shall be Rs. 52/- per ten seconds of the broadcast.
Grant for CRS
I) Grants for newly operational CRS: The Community Radio Stations license holder shall be given one-time financial assistance for Rs. 10.00 Lakh after operationalizing the CRS for three months. In respect of CRSs located in North Eastern Regions, one-time financial assistance will be given for Rs. 12.00 Lakh after operationalizing the CRS for three months. Any station which has become operational since 1st April 2021 is eligible for this category of grants. The CRS would be eligible for a grant for renewal/ replacement of equipment only after a period of five years from the date of issue of the grant. CRS can apply for grants in the Proforma given in Annexure-I.
ii) Grants for renewal/replacement of equipment for existing CRSs: The operational Community Radio Stations can apply for grants for the renewal/ replacement of CRS equipment as per the listed equipment. The ceiling of grants will be 75 % of the purchase cost of equipment up to Rs. 7.50 lakhs only. For the North-East region, the grant would be 90% of the purchase of equipment up to Rs. 7.50 lakhs. The Community Radio stations will be eligible for grants for renewal/ replacement of equipment once in a period of 5 years. However, stations can apply for grants for different equipment at any time during the currency of the scheme. The station would be required to send the proposal in the prescribed Proforma along with requisite documents. CRS can apply for grants in the Proforma given in Annexure II.
iii) Emergency grants: A provision for financial assistance has been made for 100 % of the Capital cost of equipment subject to a ceiling of Rs. 10.00 Lakhs per CRS towards damage of CR station due to any natural calamities such as floods, cyclones etc. Emergency Grants will be provided to CRS in extreme emergency situations only like natural calamities, lightning, cyclone, etc. to cover damages caused to CR Stations. The station would be required to send the proposal in the prescribed Proforma along with requisite documents as per Annexure-III.
Note: The Process in Grant takes time but we have a great relationship with Mib officials. Due to this good relationship, Mark helps their clients to get Grants in a limited time period.