The phenomenal growth achieved by All India Radio through decades has made it one of the largest media organizations in the world. Today AIR reaches out to 99.18% of the population spread over about 91.85% of the area through 262 broadcasting Centres. The inception can be traced back to the enforcement of the Telegraph Act on October1, 1885. Major landmarks of broadcasting are as below:
| Year |
Date |
Milestone |
| 1923 |
June |
Broadcast of programmes by the Radio Club of Bombay. |
| 1923 |
November |
Calcutta Radio Club put out programmmes. |
| 1924 |
July 31 |
Broadcasting Service initiated by the Madras Presidency Radio Club. |
| Year |
Date |
Milestone |
| 1930 |
March 1 |
IBC went into liquidation. |
| 1930 |
April 1 |
Indian State Broadcasting Service under Department of Industries and Labour commenced on experimental basis. |
| 1935 |
March |
Post of ``Controller of Broadcast`` innstituted. |
| Year |
Date |
Milestone |
| 1941 |
October 24 |
AIR came under the Department of I&B. |
| 1942 |
January 1 |
Akashvani Mysore was taken over by Maharaja of Mysore. |
| 1946 |
February 23 |
AIR came under the Department of Information & Arts. |
| Year |
Date |
Milestone |
| 1952 |
July 20 |
First National Programme of Music broadcast from AIR. |
| 1953 |
July 29 |
National Programme of Talks (English) commenced from AIR. |
| 1954 |
- |
First Radio Sangeet Sammelan held. |
