Indian state broadcaster Doordarshan will be renamed Prasar Bharati Corporation (Broadcasting Corporation of India) and receive a $250m grant when it becomes a fully fledged autonomous body from April 1 this year.

The grant aims to cover the gap in resources Prasar Bharati Corp will meet when it gains autonomy. In addition, the public broadcaster will receive a $45m loan in the new financial year to finance capital expenditure.

Prasar Bharati Corp has started to put in place an infrastructure for accounting and fund management so it can manage its own revenue and grants-in-aid received from the government from April 1.