In a push to expand digital access to government publications, the Publications Division has made its flagship journals — Yojana, Kurukshetra, Aajkal and Bal Bharati — along with the weekly Employment News, available free of cost on Prasar Bharati’s WAVES OTT platform.
The move aims to democratise access to credible and informative content for readers across the country by bringing the Publications Division’s repository directly to digital platforms.
The monthly journals are widely known for their in-depth analysis of socio-economic issues, rural development, literature and children’s education. Employment News, meanwhile, serves as a key resource for job seekers, offering information on employment opportunities, recruitment notifications, career guidance and skill development.
Along with the journals, the Publications Division has also released a large collection of e-books on the WAVES platform. The collection includes the India Year Book, one of the government’s flagship reference publications that provides a comprehensive account of India’s governance, economy and development initiatives.
According to the government, 227 e-books are currently available free of charge to readers on the platform.
The Publications Division plans to further expand its digital offerings by adding around 300 more e-books by the end of April. These additional titles will be offered at a nominal cost to ensure affordability while continuing the Division’s effort to promote knowledge dissemination.
In addition, readers will also be able to purchase printed books published by the Publications Division through the WAVES platform. This facility will be enabled through the CSC Grameen eStore under the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) framework, allowing easier access to physical copies even in rural and remote areas.
At present, 524 printed titles are available for purchase through the platform.
The initiative reflects the Publications Division’s effort to leverage digital platforms to widen the reach of its publications while catering to evolving reading habits through a mix of free digital access, affordable paid content and physical book availability.
