New Delhi: Bihar participated in a national conference of Information and Public Relations Secretaries from states and Union Territories held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Tuesday, with discussions focusing on strengthening public communication systems and adapting them to the changing media landscape.
Naveen Kumar, secretary of Bihar’s Information and Public Relations Department, represented the state at the conference. Senior central government officials, including Information and Broadcasting Ministry secretary Chanchal Kumar, along with representatives from states and Union Territories, attended the meeting.
Focus on Centre-state coordination
The conference examined ways to improve coordination between the Centre and states in information and public communication, while exploring new mechanisms suited to changing media and communication technologies.
Policy and operational issues related to the information and broadcasting sector were also discussed.
A key focus was strengthening cooperation between the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and the Information and Public Relations Departments of states and Union Territories.
Participants also discussed the use of training facilities at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) to improve the capacity of information and public relations officials.
WAVES 2027 and digital media initiatives
The conference discussed the framework for WAVES 2027 and ways to expand market access through WAVES Bazaar.
Other areas included strengthening public service broadcasting infrastructure and improving the effectiveness of state-specific programmes and public outreach.
Participants also considered adoption of the India Cine Hub single-window portal for film shooting and live-event permissions, as well as greater participation by states in public service broadcasting.
Press Sewa Portal and accessibility
The transition to a digital system through the Press Sewa Portal under the Press and Registration of Periodicals (PRP) Act, 2023, was also discussed.
The agenda included promoting low-cost cinema in rural and underserved areas and implementing accessibility standards in cinema halls.
Officials also discussed measures to strengthen the WaveX State Ecosystem.
Bihar seeks alignment with emerging systems
Bihar’s participation provided an opportunity to examine how the state’s information and public relations system can align with emerging technologies, digital platforms and national institutional frameworks.
The conference also provided a platform for states and the Centre to exchange experiences and best practices and discuss ways to strengthen coordination and capacity building in public communication.
