February 13 is observed as World Radio Day every year. The day celebrates the radio as a way of educating people, providing information, and promoting freedom of expression across cultures. Each year the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) celebrates World Radio Day by planning activities with broadcasters, organizations and communities around the world. It was proclaimed on 3 November 2011 by UNESCO’s 36th General Conference after originally proposed by the Kingdom of Spain.

This year, the UNESCO theme for World Radio Day is “Radio in Times of Emergency and Disaster”.

Despite being over 100 years old, the radio is one of the most popular ways to exchange information, provide social interchange, and educate people all over the world.

Did You Know???

• Radio broadcasting started in India in the early 1920’s.
• The first programme was aired by the Radio club of Bombay in 1923.
• Two Broadcasting Services were set up in Mumbai (then Bombay) and Kolkata (then Calcutta).
• The radio operation started functioning under the name of Indian Broadcasting Service after government took over the transmitters in 1930.
• Later it was changed to All India Radio (AIR) in 1936 and renamed as Akashvani in 1957.

As radio continues to evolve in the digital age, it remains the medium that reaches the widest audience worldwide. As such, in times of emergency and disaster, Radio Saves Lives.