Indian Army-backed FM stations expand influence operations along LAC
New Delhi: India has expanded Army-backed FM radio stations in border areas along the Line of Actual Control with China, in what observers describe as an attempt to strengthen military influence and shape narratives among local populations living in sensitive frontier regions.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the Indian Army, under its Sadbhavana project and the government’s Vibrant Villages Programme, has established several FM stations in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand over the past 18 months. The stations broadcast in local dialects and focus on agriculture, tourism, weather updates, government schemes and Army recruitment opportunities.
Indian authorities said the stations are also being used to counter so-called misinformation in remote areas where communication networks remain weak. The broadcasts reportedly run for 12 to 14 hours daily in regions located near the China border, including Kinnaur, Spiti, Joshimath, Pithoragarh and Harsil.
Observers said the move reflects New Delhi’s growing reliance on soft propaganda tools and information management in strategically sensitive areas. They noted that under the guise of welfare and connectivity, such initiatives are increasingly being used to deepen state influence and promote official narratives among border communities.
