The Government of India has recently issued directives to make FM radio a mandatory feature in every smartphone sold within the country.
Over the past few years, the availability of FM radio applications in mobile handsets has been gradually declining, limited mostly to feature phones or low-budget devices.
However, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) has instructed the Indian Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA)
and the Manufacturers Association for Information Technology (MAID) to ensure the presence of FM radio in all smartphones sold in India.
The advisory issued by Meity emphasizes the significance of radio as one of the oldest and most effective means of communication.
In times of natural disasters or emergencies, radio plays a vital role in disseminating information, sending alerts, and maintaining contact with the general public.
Moreover, radio serves as a popular source of information and entertainment.
The government’s objective behind making FM radio mandatory is also to provide radio services to remote rural areas.
By having FM radio in every smartphone, radio services will be accessible even to individuals who may not have the resources to purchase a separate radio set.
Furthermore, the government can establish contact with all citizens across the country, even in challenging situations, through radio services.
Meity has stated that if the radio feature is already present in smartphones, it should not be disabled.
And if it is not already included, manufacturers should incorporate it.
While the FM radio application exists in most smartphones, it is often disabled by manufacturers.
Even companies like Apple do not provide FM radio in their smartphones.
The Indian Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) and the Manufacturers Association for Information Technology (MAID) have now issued instructions, emphasizing the importance of readily available FM radio on smartphones.
