WAVES OTT Opens Free Access to Yojana, Kurukshetra, Employment News and 227 E-Books

In a major digital access push, the Publications Division has placed some of its most widely read publications on Prasar Bharati’s WAVES OTT platform, making them freely available to readers across India. The move brings flagship journals such as Yojana, Kurukshetra, Aajkal and Bal Bharati, along with the weekly Employment News, onto a single public digital platform, expanding access to government-backed knowledge, policy discussion, literature and career information. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting on April 9, 2026.

The initiative is designed to widen public access to credible and informative reading material. Yojana and Kurukshetra have long served as reference points for discussions on governance, rural development and socio-economic policy, while Employment News remains an important source for recruitment notices, career guidance and skill-related updates for job seekers. By placing these resources on WAVES OTT without charge, the government is attempting to make reliable informational content easier to reach for students, aspirants, researchers and general readers alike.

Beyond journals, the Publications Division has also released 227 e-books for free access on the platform. Among them is the India Year Book, one of its most recognized reference publications, known for compiling information on India’s governance structure, economy and development landscape. The digital catalogue spans multiple genres, indicating a broader attempt to turn WAVES OTT into more than just a streaming platform and instead position it as a wider public knowledge gateway.

The digital rollout is set to expand further. The Publications Division has said that around 300 more e-books are expected to be added to the platform by the end of April, though these will be offered at a nominal price rather than free of cost. In addition, readers will also be able to buy printed books through WAVES using the CSC Grameen eStore under the ONDC framework. At present, 524 printed titles are available for purchase, including for readers in rural and remote areas.

Taken together, the move reflects an effort to combine free public access, affordable paid digital reading and physical book availability within one ecosystem. For a country with a large base of exam aspirants, public policy readers and regional-language audiences, the decision could significantly widen the reach of long-established government publications in a more contemporary format.

Reference:

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2250465&reg=3&lang=1