MIB allocated budget of Rs 4375.21 cr for FY21

The ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) has been allocated Rs 4375.21 crore by the finance ministry for the FY21. The finance ministry had made a similar budgetary allocation for FY20 as well. This is higher than the revised budget estimate of Rs 4064.76 crore in FY20.

Prasar Bharati’s budget for FY21 has been decreased to Rs 370 crore compared to Rs 473 crore in the previous fiscal. However, this is higher than the revised budgetary allocation of Rs 235.40 crore. The grant to Prasar Bharati is majorly for Broadcasting Infrastructure Network Development (BIND).

BIND includes provision for the scheme Grant in aid to Prasar Bharati, which is being provided to cover the gap in resources of Prasar Bharati in meeting its Revenue expenditure.

The provision of Prasar Bharati was covered under three schemes viz. (a) Grants-in-aid to Prasar Bharati; (b) Grants-in-aid to Prasar Bharati for Kisan Channel; and (c) Grants-in-aid to Prasar Bharati for Arun Prabha Channel. These three schemes were merged and renamed as Broadcasting Infrastructure Network Development (New Scheme) from FY 2019-20.

The total information budget has been decreased to Rs 220 crore as against Rs 227 crore in FY20. The revised budget estimate for the information sector is Rs 215 crore.

The ministry has allocated Rs 145.50 crore for the film sector. This is lower than the FY20 budget of Rs 165 crore and higher than the revised budget estimate of Rs 133.13 crore.

The total support to autonomous bodies including public broadcaster Prasar Bharati has been increased to Rs 3080.41 crore as against FY20 budget allocation of Rs 2979.76 crore and revised budget estimate of Rs 2978.73 crore.

Of that, Prasar Bharati will receive a whopping Rs 2889.36 crore, which is the same as last year. It covers the Non-Scheme expenditure of Prasar Bharati. It also includes the leave salary and pension contribution of Government Employees on deemed deputation to Prasar Bharati.

Four schemes strengthening of Electronic Media Centre, supporting Community Radio Movement in India, mission digitisation, and automation of broadcasting wing have been merged with Main Secretariat under Establishment Expenditure.

From FY21, the National Centre of Excellence for Animation, Gaming and Special Effects scheme is shifted to Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) under Other Central Expenditure owing to rationalisation.

The scheme for upgradation of IIMC to International Standards Mass Communication will cease to exist from FY21. On account of rationalization, these two schemes are merged with IIMC under Other Central Expenditure from FY 2020-21.