India’s national broadcaster All India Radio stopped the operation of 37 Gyan Vani FM channels due to non-payments by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), according to the government.

IGNOU, which is owned by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, owed the broadcaster $3.44 million (Rs 216.4 million) since April last year.

Its educational FM network Gyan Vani – which was taken off air on October 1 – served more than 3 million students across the country.

According to the Economic Times, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said: “IGNOU has approached concerned regulatory authorities for renewal of their operating licenses for resuming transmission. IGNOU has paid a major part of outstanding dues – $2.72 million (Rs 170 million).” 

He also said that the resumption of services by AIR depends upon finalisation of mutually agreed terms and conditions.