• The government launched Sansad TV, which has been created by merging Lok Sabha TV and Rajya Sabha TV.

• It was jointly launched by Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, PM Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on the International Day of Democracy (September 15).

Formation of Sansad TV

• Lok Sabha TV was the first parliamentary channel of India. It started operating on July 24th, 2006. LSTV had the mandate to telecast uninterrupted live proceedings of the Lok Sabha.

• Rajya Sabha TV was launched in 2011. Apart from telecasting live coverage of Rajya Sabha proceedings, RSTV also had analysis of parliamentary affairs. While focusing on current national and international affairs, it provided a platform for knowledge-based programmes for the discerning viewer. The channel offered special attention to legislative business undertaken by the Parliament.

• In November 2019, after deliberations between Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu, a committee headed by former Prasar Bharati Chairman Surya Prakash was formed for the integration of the two channels.

• The committee had submitted its report last year.

• In February, 2021, the decision to merge Lok Sabha TV and Rajya Sabha TV was taken and Ravi Capoor was appointed as the CEO of Sansad TV in March 2021.

Sansad TV programming will primarily be in four categories:

• Functioning of Parliament and democratic institutions.

• Governance and implementation of schemes/policies.

• History and culture of India.

• Issues/interests/concerns of contemporary nature.

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