While presenting the interim budget for 2014-2015, India’s Finance Minister earmarked $16 million (Rs 1 billion) to promote community radio throughout the country.

90 percent of the funding will be earmarked for building community stations and the remainder will help the industry market itself through workshops organized annually by the Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry.

Recently, the I&B Ministry also introduced a scheme that funds 50 percent of the equipment costs to new and established community radio stations.

Over the past ten years, the government received nearly 1,277 applications for community radio stations, but until December 1, 2013, only 161 stations were operational.  223 applications were under process and 616 applications had been rejected.