India’s public broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) has launched a free SMS news service.

A pilot project which began earlier this year was so successful, the organisation has decided to roll out the platform nationwide.

The service was launched by Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari on Tuesday.

Already 200,000 people have subscribed;  it is hoped the service will attract more than 500,000 people by the end of September.

The new service comes ahead of India’s general election next year.

AIR says it will cover the huge costs of sending SMSs by allowing government ministries to send public service announcements alongside the news updates.