The Indian government won’t let private FM stations source, write and edit their own news bulletins…yet, new Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar told parliament.

But the government will allow stations to broadcast news from bulletins of the public broadcaster, All India Radio (AIR) when Phase III of FM radio regulation takes place, probably next year.

Javadekar said that information relating to sporting events, traffic, weather, civic amenities and natural calamities will be treated as non-news items “and will, therefore, be permissible.”

He said the government can think of further “relaxation”, once news broadcasts have been opened up.

Javadekar was answering a question about why the government was against news broadcast on FM channels, when private news was available freely on TV and mobiles.

India is possibly the only democratic country that doesn’t currently permit news bulletins on radio.

The rule is currently being challenged in the Supreme Court.

Javadekar said he had recently met representatives of FM Radio stations and has given “in principle” approval for broadcast of news on private FM Radio, sourced from AIR.

The minister said they can also have an option of sourcing it from Press Trust of India (PTI) as well.

The number of cities with FM channels will increase by March 30, 2015 when the Phase-III is expected to be rolled out.