NTA NET Notes

NTA UGC NET MCJ Unit 1 Part 2: Mass Communication in India

NTA UGC NET Mass Communication and Journalism Paper II Unit 1 notes on mass communication in India, growth of mass media, press, radio, television, cinema and digital media.

NTA UGC NET MCJ Unit 1 Part 2: Mass Communication in India

NTA UGC NET Mass Communication and Journalism – Paper II

Subject Code 63 | Unit 1: Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

Part 2: Mass Communication in India

Exam Focus: This note covers the growth of mass communication in India through print, radio, cinema, television, satellite communication, public service broadcasting, folk media, development communication and digital media. It is prepared with PYQ-linked revision points from the uploaded previous-year question papers.
How to use this page: First read the timeline, then revise each medium, and finally check the PYQ reference tables. Most questions from this area are asked as chronology, match the following, firsts in Indian media, institution-based questions and development communication concepts.

1. Infographic Overview

Print→ Radio→ Cinema→ Television→ Satellite→ Internet→ Mobile / Social Media
Memory line: Indian mass communication moved from printed public opinion to broadcast reach and then to digital participation.

2. Meaning of Mass Communication

Mass communication is the process of sending messages to a large, scattered and heterogeneous audience through technological media such as newspapers, magazines, radio, television, cinema, websites, mobile apps and social media platforms.

Feature Meaning Exam Keyword
Large audience One message can reach many people at the same time. Scale
Heterogeneous audience The audience includes people from different regions, classes, languages and backgrounds. Diversity
Mediated communication Communication happens through a medium such as print, radio, TV or digital networks. Technology
Public message The message is usually available to the public, not only to one private receiver. Public nature
Feedback Delayed in traditional media; faster and interactive in digital media. Feedback pattern

3. Master Timeline for Revision

Year Milestone Why Important for NET
1780 Hicky's Bengal Gazette First newspaper published in India.
1818 Samachar Darpan Important early Bengali newspaper; appears in chronology questions.
1822 Bombay Samachar One of the oldest continuously published newspapers.
1826 Udant Martand First Hindi newspaper.
1878 Vernacular Press Act Colonial press control; also called the Gagging Act.
1913 Raja Harishchandra First full-length Indian feature film.
1931 Alam Ara First Indian talkie film.
1936 All India Radio AIR name came into use.
1957 Akashvani Popular name associated with AIR.
1959 Television started in Delhi Beginning of television broadcasting in India.
1975–76 SITE Satellite Instructional Television Experiment; development communication landmark.
1976 Doordarshan separated from AIR Television received separate organisational identity.
1982 Colour television Major expansion phase connected with Asian Games coverage.
1997 Prasar Bharati became operational Autonomous public broadcasting body for AIR and Doordarshan.

4. Print Media in India

Print was the first major form of mass communication in India. Newspapers helped in public debate, social reform, political awareness and nationalist mobilisation.

Publication / Law Year Importance
Hicky's Bengal Gazette 1780 First newspaper in India; linked with James Augustus Hicky.
Samachar Darpan 1818 Important early Bengali newspaper.
Bombay Samachar 1822 Important early Indian newspaper.
Udant Martand 1826 First Hindi newspaper.
Vernacular Press Act 1878 Colonial law to control Indian-language newspapers.

5. PYQ References: Print Media and Press History

PYQ Paper Question Area Found What to Revise
June 2008 Paper II First European who attempted to bring out a newspaper in India. James Augustus Hicky; early press in India.
June 2008 Paper II Chronological order involving Udant Martand, Samachar Darpan, Gospel Magazine and Digdarshan. Early Indian language press chronology.
June 2011 Paper II Chronological order of newspapers including Bengal Gazette, Samachar Darpan, Economic Times and Bombay Herald. Newspaper launching sequence.
July 2016 Paper III Chronological order of press laws including the Vernacular Press Act. Indian press laws and colonial controls.
November 2017 Paper III Vernacular Press Act 1878 was also called by another name. Gagging Act / Lytton period press control.

6. Nationalist Press and Indian Freedom Movement

Personality Associated Publication Revision Point
Bal Gangadhar Tilak Kesari, Mahratta Nationalist mobilisation through press.
Mahatma Gandhi Young India, Harijan, Indian Opinion Ethical, social and political communication.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy Sambad Kaumudi, Mirat-ul-Akbar Reform-oriented journalism.
G. Subramania Iyer The Hindu, Swadesamitran Important in South Indian press history.

7. PYQ References: Nationalist and Language Press

PYQ Paper Question Area Found What to Revise
June 2012 Paper III ‘Marattha’ was the sister publication of which newspaper? Mahratta / Maratha and Kesari linkage.
September 2013 Paper II Question involving a newspaper advertisement in 1875 and newspapers such as Kesari, The Tribune, Amrit Bazar Patrika and The Times of India. Nationalist press and important newspapers.
June 2006 Paper II Match item involving Mirat-ul-Akbar and Raja Ram Mohan Roy. Raja Ram Mohan Roy and reformist press.
November 2017 Paper III Question on first Indian language newspaper with options such as Bangadoota, Samachar, Digdarshan and Mirat-ul-Akhbar. Early Indian language newspapers.

8. Radio Broadcasting in India

Radio became important because it could reach both literate and non-literate audiences. It became useful for news, education, agriculture, development messages, entertainment and emergency communication.

Year Development Importance
1927 Indian Broadcasting Company Early organised radio broadcasting phase.
1936 All India Radio Important institutional name.
1957 Akashvani Popular identity of AIR.
1997 Prasar Bharati operational Autonomous public broadcasting body.
Radio in India: Revise affordability, rural reach, language flexibility and development communication use.

9. PYQ References: Radio and Public Broadcasting

PYQ Paper Question Area Found What to Revise
December 2011 Paper II Right sequence in the history of radio in India involving Indian Broadcasting Company, school education broadcast, AIR and farm/home broadcast. Radio chronology in India.
June 2013 Paper III City in which AIR launched FM-II infotainment channel on September 01, 2001. AIR and FM service developments.
December 2009 Paper II Committee set up to re-examine the Prasar Bharati Act. Prasar Bharati and public broadcasting committees.
June 2009 Paper II “The airwaves are public property” declaration. Public ownership of airwaves and broadcasting regulation.
December 2007 Paper II Assertion-reason question on responsibilities of mass media in a developing society and public service broadcasting. Public service broadcasting and social responsibility.

10. Cinema as Mass Communication in India

Cinema is a powerful mass medium in India. It has shaped popular culture, language, music, fashion, identity, social awareness and political imagination.

Year Film / Development Importance
1913 Raja Harishchandra First full-length Indian feature film by Dadasaheb Phalke.
1931 Alam Ara First Indian talkie film.
1952 First International Film Festival of India Indian film culture milestone.
1955 Pather Panchali Important Indian parallel cinema film by Satyajit Ray.

11. PYQ References: Cinema

PYQ Paper Question Area Found What to Revise
September 2013 Paper II Questions found on Raja Harishchandra and Alam Ara. First Indian feature film and first talkie.
June 2011 Paper II Question area involving Dadasaheb Phalke. Father of Indian cinema and early Indian film history.
July 2018 Paper II Question area involving Dadasaheb Phalke and Pather Panchali. Film pioneers and parallel cinema.
September 2016 Paper III Question area involving Films Division. Documentary and public information films.

12. Television in India

Television brought audio-visual communication into Indian homes. It became important for education, news, entertainment, advertising, development campaigns and public service communication.

Year Development Importance
1959 Television started in Delhi Beginning of television broadcasting in India.
1965 Regular television service Television programming became more regular.
1975–76 SITE Educational and development communication experiment.
1976 Doordarshan separated from AIR Television gained separate organisational identity.
1982 Colour television introduced Important television expansion milestone.
1990s Satellite and cable television expansion Growth of private TV channels and competition.

13. SITE: Satellite Instructional Television Experiment

Aspect Explanation
Full form Satellite Instructional Television Experiment.
Period 1975–76.
Purpose To use satellite television for education and development communication.
Focus areas Agriculture, health, family welfare, education and rural development.
Exam link Public service broadcasting, educational media and development communication.

14. PYQ References: Television, Doordarshan and SITE

PYQ Paper Question Area Found What to Revise
June 2008 Paper II Chronological order of places where Doordarshan launched its operations. Doordarshan expansion chronology.
December 2010 Paper II Doordarshan and AIR separation based on committee recommendation. Chanda Committee and institutional separation.
June 2012 Paper III Chronological sequence of television networks in India: Doordarshan, Star, Zee, Sony. Public TV to private satellite channel chronology.
June 2013 Paper III Doordarshan code of ethics question. Public broadcaster ethics and restrictions.
September 2013 Paper II Doordarshan Audience Research Unit study on development-oriented programmes. Development programmes, audience research and viewership.
June 2010 Paper II Assertion-reason question: SITE was a hardware success and software failure. SITE evaluation and content-planning issues.
December 2011 Paper II Sequence of events in Indian television history involving educational programmes, agricultural programmes, SITE and INSAT. TV development and satellite communication chronology.

15. Public Service Broadcasting in India

Public service broadcasting refers to broadcasting that serves public interest rather than only commercial profit. In India, All India Radio and Doordarshan have traditionally served this role.

Role Example in India
Information News, weather, government information, public announcements and election information.
Education School broadcasts, adult education, agricultural and health programmes.
Culture Promotion of Indian languages, classical arts, folk culture and national integration.
Development Rural development, health, sanitation, agriculture and social welfare campaigns.

16. Internet, Digital Media and Mobile Communication

Internet and mobile communication changed mass communication from one-way communication to interactive and participatory communication. Audiences can now create, share, comment and respond instantly.

One-way media→ Interactive media→ User-generated content→ Mobile-first communication
Traditional Mass Media Digital Media
Mostly one-way communication Interactive and participatory communication
Delayed feedback Instant feedback through comments, likes, shares and messages
Controlled by media organisations Users can also create and distribute content
Fixed schedule On-demand and continuous access

17. Traditional and Folk Media

Folk media are culturally rooted forms of communication such as folk songs, puppetry, street theatre, storytelling, folk dance and community performances. They are especially useful in rural and community-level communication.

Folk / Traditional Form Common Association
Burrakatha Andhra Pradesh
Tamasha Maharashtra
Yakshagana Karnataka
Kathakali Kerala
Garba Gujarat
Bhaona Assam

18. PYQ References: Folk Media and Development Communication

PYQ Paper Question Area Found What to Revise
December 2006 Paper II Match folk media with states: Burrakatha, Tamasha, Yakshagana, Kathakali. Folk media and regional associations.
June 2008 Paper II Match folk media with states: Yakshagana, Burrakatha, Tamasha, Saang. Folk media and regional associations.
December 2009 Paper II Match folk media with states: Bhaona, Tamasha, Garba, Kathakali. Regional folk forms.
June 2012 Paper III Question identifying puppetry as a mechanical medium. Traditional / folk media categories.
September 2013 Paper II Question: which medium is traditionally known as the poor cousin of television and print media? Folk media and its position among mass media.
December 2012 Paper III Assertion-reason question on using folk media for scientific temperament among rural masses. Folk media in rural communication.
December 2013 Paper III Assertion-reason question on whether folk media are museum artefacts. Relevance of folk media in modern communication.
December 2015 Paper III Assertion-reason question on electronic media sidelining traditional folk media. Traditional media versus electronic media.

19. Development Communication in India

Development communication means the use of communication for social and economic development. In India, media have been used for agriculture, health, education, sanitation, environment, family welfare, literacy and rural development.

Important idea: Development communication is not merely sending information. It involves awareness, participation, behavioural change and community development.

20. PYQ References: Development Communication Concepts

PYQ Paper Question Area Found What to Revise
June 2007 Paper II Problem-solving model of development communication. Models and scholars of development communication.
June 2009 Paper II Author associated with development communication as leapfrogging centuries of underdevelopment. Development communication thinkers.
December 2014 Paper III F. Rozario-Braid’s definition of development communication. Definitions and conceptual framing.
December 2015 Paper III Person who defined development communication for the first time in the 1970s. Nora C. Quebral and development communication origin.
September 2016 Paper III “Revolution of rising expectations” in development communication. Daniel Lerner and media exposure in development.
September 2016 Paper III Correct sequence of concepts in development communication. Dominant paradigm, diffusion of innovations, organic development, communitarian approach.

21. Question-Type Infographic

Question Type Example From Uploaded PYQs Revision Method
Chronology Newspaper launching sequence; radio/TV history sequence; Doordarshan network sequence. Memorise the master timeline.
Match the following Folk media and states; personalities and publications; institutions and functions. Revise association tables.
Direct factual First newspaper, first Hindi newspaper, first Indian talkie, first feature film. Revise “firsts” and years.
Assertion-reason SITE success/failure; folk media relevance; development communication challenges. Revise concepts, not only facts.
Institution-based Prasar Bharati, AIR, Doordarshan, Press Council, Films Division. Revise institution, function and year.

22. Quick Revision Sheet

Remember One-line Answer
First newspaper in India Hicky's Bengal Gazette, 1780.
First Hindi newspaper Udant Martand, 1826.
Vernacular Press Act 1878; also called the Gagging Act.
First Indian feature film Raja Harishchandra, 1913.
First Indian talkie Alam Ara, 1931.
AIR All India Radio name came into use in 1936.
Akashvani Name associated with AIR from 1957.
Television in India Started in Delhi in 1959.
SITE Satellite Instructional Television Experiment, 1975–76.
Doordarshan separation Separated from AIR in 1976.
Colour television Introduced in India in 1982.
Prasar Bharati Operational from 1997.

23. Practice Questions

1. Which newspaper is generally regarded as the first newspaper published in India?
Answer: Hicky's Bengal Gazette.
2. What is the importance of Udant Martand?
Answer: It was the first Hindi newspaper.
3. What was the Vernacular Press Act known as?
Answer: It was also called the Gagging Act.
4. What is SITE?
Answer: SITE stands for Satellite Instructional Television Experiment. It used satellite television for education and development communication.
5. Why is folk media useful in Indian development communication?
Answer: Folk media are culturally familiar, participatory, low-cost and effective in local-language rural communication.

24. Final Exam Tip

For this topic, prepare a notebook page with three columns: Year, Medium and PYQ clue. If you remember the timeline and the repeated PYQ areas, you can quickly solve chronology, matching and assertion-reason questions from Mass Communication in India.

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