India's state broadcaster hunts for new chiefs

NEW DELHI: Prasar Bharati, India's lumbering state broadcaster, has thrown open applications for two top jobs: director-general of All India Radio (Akashvani) and director-general of Doordarshan, its television network. Both posts, sitting at Level-16 of the pay matrix with salaries ranging from Rs 2.05 lakh to Rs 2.24 lakh monthly, are up for grabs through promotion or deputation for the vacancy year 2026. The hunt targets Group A officers from All India Services or Central Services holding analogous posts, or those with one year in Level 15 or four years in Level 14. Officers from autonomous bodies, statutory organisations, public sector undertakings, universities and research institutions with equivalent experience may also apply—provided they bring a degree and 25 years of experience, including 15 years in senior executive positions in media, mass communication or public administration. The broadcaster wants broad knowledge spanning finance, personnel management, current affairs, engineering, technology, communications, arts, culture and education. Applications must reach the Prasar Bharati secretariat in New Delhi by 5pm on 15th December 2025, with proper channel submissions due by 31st December. Even officers from the Senior Administrative Grade of the Indian Broadcasting Service with four years of regular service can throw their hats in the ring. If selected, their appointments will count as promotions rather than deputations. The deputation period runs three years, though combined with other ex-cadre postings it cannot ordinarily exceed five years. The closing date is firm. Late or incomplete applications will be binned. Candidates who applied for the same posts during the 2025 vacancy year must start afresh. The bureaucratic wheels grind on, searching for leaders to steer India's creaking public broadcasting apparatus into an uncertain futur