Rajya Sabha TV

Rajya Sabha TV was an Indian public television channel owned and operated by Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament of India. Its principal editorial and institutional role was to provide television coverage of the chamber's proceedings, including debates, legislative business and other parliamentary activity. The channel also developed analysis and discussion programming intended to explain parliamentary affairs and public policy to viewers beyond the legislature itself. Unlike a conventional commercial news network, Rajya Sabha TV was structured around the work of Parliament and the public-information function of a parliamentary broadcaster. Live and recorded coverage of Rajya Sabha proceedings formed the core of its output, while current-affairs programmes examined national and international issues through interviews, panel discussions and expert analysis. Parliamentary bills, committee work, legal questions, economic policy, foreign affairs, defence and social issues were recurring subjects. The channel's programming was designed for viewers seeking detailed, institutional and knowledge-based treatment rather than only headline news. RSTV was one of India's bilingual television services, broadcasting in both Hindi and English. Its schedule included seven news bulletins, with four in Hindi and three in English, alongside daily and weekly programmes. Hindi offerings included Vishesh, a detailed examination of topical issues; Desh Deshantar, a discussion of national and international affairs; Sarkar, a panel programme on social issues; Ayushman Bhav, a health programme incorporating audience questions; Aapkka Kanoon, which addressed everyday legal matters with legal experts; Virasat, a biographical series about figures in arts, literature, culture and film; Guftagoo and Shakhsiyat, interview and conversation formats; Arthniti, focused on economic issues; and Sara Jahan, a magazine on international events. English-language programmes included In-Depth, Big Picture, Pulse, Laws in the Making, Indian Standard Time, India's World, Policy Watch and Security Scan, covering legislation, public policy, diplomacy, world affairs and defence. The channel also used television production to present historical and cultural subjects. It produced Samvidhaan, a ten-part series directed by filmmaker Shyam Benegal, which explored the making and development of India's Constitution. It also produced Raag Desh, a serial and film concerning the trial of Indian National Army officers during British rule, directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia. These productions extended the brand beyond live parliamentary coverage into historical storytelling and civic education. Rajya Sabha TV benefited from India's must-carry framework. A 2015 Government of India advisory required television distribution platforms, including cable and direct-to-home operators, to carry the channel. Its digital presence also became significant, with its YouTube channel attracting millions of subscribers and individual programmes receiving substantial online viewership. The channel's parliamentary footage was frequently used by other news organisations in their coverage. Rajya Sabha TV ceased operating as a standalone channel in March 2021, when it was merged with Lok Sabha TV to create Sansad TV, the combined parliamentary television service. The merger marked the end of RSTV as an independent brand while continuing the broader public-broadcasting mission of televising and explaining the work of India's Parliament.

Rajya Sabha TV emerged as the dedicated television service of India's upper parliamentary chamber. Its institutional owner and editorial subject were closely linked: the channel was operated by Rajya Sabha and concentrated on the chamber's proceedings, legislative agenda and public significance. Rather than functioning primarily as a general commercial news outlet, it served as a parliamentary broadcaster, making debates and legislative business available to citizens through television. Its principal output was live coverage of Rajya Sabha proceedings. This included parliamentary debates and other business conducted in the chamber, material that could then be used by other news organisations in their reporting. Around the live feed, the channel developed explanatory and analytical programming dealing with bills, committees, government policy and wider political questions. This gave RSTV a role not only in transmitting proceedings but also in interpreting the parliamentary process for a broader audience. The service operated bilingually in Hindi and English, reflecting the linguistic reach of Indian national broadcasting. Its schedule combined several daily news bulletins with regular analytical, interview and discussion programmes. Vishesh and In-Depth examined topical issues in Hindi and English respectively. Desh Deshantar and Big Picture used expert discussions to address current national and international matters. Laws in the Making focused on bills as they moved through Parliament or its committees, while Policy Watch, Arthniti, India's World, Indian Standard Time and Security Scan covered policy, economics, international affairs, diplomacy and defence. Audience-oriented formats such as Pulse, Sarkar, Ayushman Bhav and Aapkka Kanoon brought public questions into discussions of current, health and legal issues. Cultural and personality programmes, including Virasat, Guftagoo and Shakhsiyat, broadened the schedule beyond politics. RSTV also invested in substantial historical and cultural productions. Samvidhaan was a ten-part television miniseries directed by Shyam Benegal and centred on India's constitutional story. Raag Desh, produced as both a teleserial and a film, dealt with the trial of Indian National Army officers during the period of British rule and was directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia. These productions reflected the channel's wider educational and civic orientation and helped establish a programming identity beyond the routine transmission of parliamentary sessions. Distribution was supported by the Indian government's must-carry framework. A 2015 advisory required cable and direct-to-home providers to include the channel, ensuring that the parliamentary service could reach television households across the country. In later years, RSTV also built a substantial online audience through YouTube. Its digital distribution allowed individual programmes and parliamentary segments to circulate beyond scheduled broadcasts, while its television footage was routinely incorporated into news coverage by other broadcasters. The channel's independent existence ended in March 2021. Rajya Sabha TV was merged with Lok Sabha TV to create Sansad TV, a combined parliamentary channel serving both houses of Parliament. The merger replaced the separate RSTV brand but preserved the central public function associated with it: broadcasting parliamentary proceedings and providing accessible analysis of legislative and national affairs.

• 2021

  Merger into Sansad TV

  [1]Rajya Sabha TVen.wikipedia.org

  Rajya Sabha TV and Lok Sabha TV were merged in March to form Sansad TV, ending RSTV's standalone operation.

• 2015

  Must-carry distribution requirement

  [1]Rajya Sabha TVen.wikipedia.org

  A Government of India advisory required cable and direct-to-home television providers to carry Rajya Sabha TV, reinforcing its nationwide public-service distribution.

A public, parliamentary and bilingual television service focused on explaining the work of Rajya Sabha, legislative processes, public policy and major national and international issues.

• Television broadcasting

  Parliamentary proceedings coverage

  The channel's core service was live and recorded television coverage of Rajya Sabha proceedings. It brought debates, legislative business and other chamber activity to the public and supplied source footage that was also used in wider news reporting. This institutional coverage distinguished RSTV from general-interest commercial news channels.

• News and analysis

  Current-affairs and policy programming

  RSTV produced bilingual daily and weekly programmes that examined national and international affairs, legislation, public policy, economics, diplomacy, defence, health and legal issues. Formats such as Vishesh, In-Depth, Big Picture, Laws in the Making, Policy Watch and Arthniti used presenters, experts, officials and audience participation to provide context around issues in the news.

• Historical television miniseries

  Samvidhaan

  Samvidhaan was a ten-part television miniseries produced by Rajya Sabha TV and directed by Shyam Benegal. It presented India's constitutional history and the making of the Constitution in an extended, educational format, reflecting the channel's interest in civic and historical programming.

• Historical drama

  Raag Desh

  Raag Desh was produced by Rajya Sabha TV as a teleserial and film about the trial of Indian National Army officers during British rule. Directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia, it represented an expansion of the channel's output into historical drama and national-history storytelling.

• Online video

  Digital video channel

  Rajya Sabha TV extended its parliamentary, analytical and documentary output through online video distribution, particularly YouTube. The digital channel enabled audiences to watch programmes and parliamentary material outside the linear television schedule and became an important part of the brand's reach.

• 2021

  Consolidation with Lok Sabha TVM&A

  Background

  India's Parliament had separate television services associated with its two houses. A combined parliamentary broadcasting model was created to bring those services together.

  Action taken

  Rajya Sabha TV and Lok Sabha TV were merged in March 2021 to form Sansad TV.

  Aftermath

  Rajya Sabha TV ceased as an independent channel, while parliamentary television coverage continued under the Sansad TV brand.

  Source

• 2015

  Public-distribution designation through must-carry rulesOther

  Background

  The channel's parliamentary public-service role depended on broad access through India's cable and direct-to-home television infrastructure.

  Action taken

  The Government of India issued an advisory requiring television service providers to carry Rajya Sabha TV.

  Aftermath

  The requirement supported nationwide availability of the channel during its period of operation.

  Source

• 2021

  Rajya Sabha TV and Lok Sabha TV merged to form Sansad TV[1]Rajya Sabha TVen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Leadership change · Other

  In March 2021, the two parliamentary television services were combined into Sansad TV. The change ended Rajya Sabha TV's operation as a standalone channel and created a unified service for parliamentary broadcasting.

• 2015

  Rajya Sabha TV remained subject to India's must-carry television distribution framework[1]Rajya Sabha TVen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  A Government of India advisory required cable and direct-to-home television providers to carry Rajya Sabha TV, supporting its distribution as a public parliamentary channel.

1. 1Rajya Sabha TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Rajya Sabha TV official websiterstv.nic.in