Private Indian FM stations can look forward to airing news bulletins for the first time ever, according to the newly elected Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Prakash Javadekar.

He made the comments as the country prepares to auction 839 new FM frequencies during Phase III of the liberalisation of the band.

Speaking to local media personnel, Javadekar said, “I am meeting all FM channels. And there is just one demand that Phase three should be auctioned at the earliest. It will happen shortly.”

The e-auction was cleared by the previous government last year.

This phase will also allow operators to carry news bulletins from the government broadcaster All India Radio.

But the FM industry hopes stations may be allowed to gather and broadcast their own bulletins.

“Why should FM channels be banned from broadcasting news? The Centre is considering allowing privately-owned FM radio channels to start their own news broadcast,” said the minister.