India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will review the guidelines laid down for the operation of local community radio, after recently introducing the new sector to India’s broadcasting landscape.

The Information and Broadcasting Minister is considering allowing local advertising and non-political news content on community radio. The proposals will soon be submitted to the cabvarchar(15).

The minister also says the government is keen to promote the community radio concept and will look into allowing local advertisements, sports, weather and traffic news on the channel.

There are as many as 20 community radio stations expected to open within the next few months.

Community radio stations are low-power FM radio stations operating within a six- to eight-kilometer radius.

Licences have largely been awarded to educational institutions like the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) in Delhi.