Quick answer: The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) is a Kuala Lumpur-based, not-for-profit association of broadcasters set up in 1964. India’s public broadcaster Prasar Bharati collected two ABU honours at the union’s 63rd General Assembly in Colombo, Sri Lanka (30 October to 3 November 2026): a special commendation for Akashvani Bengaluru and an engineering excellence award for Prasar Bharati engineer Nongmaithem Nandakumar Singh.
Why the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union is in the news
Colombo hosted the 63rd ABU General Assembly and Associated Meetings from 30 October to 3 November 2026 under the theme “Media for Peace and Humanity: Truth, Trust, and Transformation”. Sri Lanka’s MTV, part of the Capital Maharaja Group’s Maharaja Media Network, was the host. According to DD News and Akashvani News, Prasar Bharati was recognised twice during the meetings, and it also used the platform to present its streaming service, WAVES OTT, to regional broadcasters.
Key facts: India’s two ABU honours in 2026
| Honour | Winner | What it recognised | Received by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audio Public Service Announcement – Special Commendation (ABU Prizes 2026) | Prasar Bharati – Akashvani, Bengaluru | Programme Beyond the Call, on public-service communication with communities | Jyoti Das, Akashvani Bengaluru |
| ABU Broadcast Engineering Excellence Award 2026 | Nongmaithem Nandakumar Singh, Prasar Bharati | Innovations such as DDPlayout (indigenous automated playout software used by several Doordarshan Kendras) and DDSlowMo (low-cost slow-motion replay system for national sports events) | Mihir Kumar Jha, Under Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting |
- WAVES OTT: presented in Colombo by Prasar Bharati Member (Finance) Rajeev Roy. Launched in November 2024, it has crossed 15 million registered users and 19 million downloads, with reach in over 130 countries, DD News reported.
- New ABU leadership: NHK Executive Vice-President Hiroo Yamana (Japan) was elected ABU President, and Chevaan Daniel became the first Sri Lankan to serve as ABU Vice-President.
- Next venue: the 64th General Assembly in 2027 goes to Shanghai, hosted by China’s RTPRC with Shanghai Media Group as organiser.
- The 15th ABU Song Festival was also staged in Sri Lanka during the meetings.
ABU at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1964 |
| Nature | Not-for-profit, non-governmental association of radio, TV and digital media organisations |
| Headquarters | Angkasapuri, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Size | About 224 member organisations in 66 countries; the ABU says its network can reach around 3 billion people |
| Guiding idea | “Unity in Diversity” |
| Supreme body | General Assembly of all Full, Additional Full and Associate members |
| Executive body | Administrative Council of 18 Full/Additional Full members, elected for three years; meets twice a year |
| India’s seat | Prasar Bharati is on the Administrative Council list effective 1 January 2026 |
What the ABU does
The union works as a common platform for public and private broadcasters across a very diverse region. Members swap news and sports footage in real time, share programmes (including a dedicated exchange for Pacific broadcasters), and coordinate on technical issues such as spectrum use and the move to digital broadcasting. Its ABU Media Academy runs workshops and certified courses. The ABU also runs programmes on media and information literacy, broadcasting for public safety during crises, and guidance on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in media.
Two ABU events are familiar to Indian students. The ABU Robocon, launched in 2002, is a robot-building contest for engineering students of the Asia-Pacific, hosted by a member broadcaster and televised across the region. The ABU Prizes reward the best radio, television and digital productions from member organisations each year.
Exam angle: how NDA, CDS and CAPF can ask this
- Headquarters of international and regional bodies (for example, ABU – Kuala Lumpur) are a regular one-liner in the General Knowledge paper.
- Awards won by Indian institutions abroad feature in current-affairs sections; note the award name, the winner and the venue together.
- India-Sri Lanka links and Colombo as a venue can be tied to wider questions on neighbourhood diplomacy.
- Indigenous technology (DDPlayout, DDSlowMo) fits questions on self-reliance in broadcasting.
Practice MCQs
Q1. Where is the headquarters of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union?
(a) Bangkok (b) Singapore (c) Kuala Lumpur (d) Tokyo
Answer: (c) — the ABU is based at Angkasapuri, Kuala Lumpur.
Q2. The 63rd ABU General Assembly in 2026 was held in:
(a) New Delhi (b) Colombo (c) Shanghai (d) Istanbul
Answer: (b) — Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 30 October to 3 November 2026.
Q3. DDPlayout and DDSlowMo, cited for an ABU engineering award in 2026, were developed by an engineer of:
(a) ISRO (b) BEL (c) Prasar Bharati (d) C-DOT
Answer: (c) — Nongmaithem Nandakumar Singh of Prasar Bharati.
Q4. ABU Robocon, organised under the ABU, is a contest for:
(a) School quiz teams (b) Engineering students building robots (c) Radio drama producers (d) Sports commentators
Answer: (b) — launched in 2002 for engineering students of the region.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union?
A regional union of public and private broadcasters, formed in 1964 and based in Kuala Lumpur. It runs on a non-profit basis and has about 224 member organisations in 66 countries.
Which awards did Prasar Bharati win in 2026?
Akashvani Bengaluru received a Special Commendation in the Audio Public Service Announcement category for Beyond the Call, and engineer Nongmaithem Nandakumar Singh won the ABU Broadcast Engineering Excellence Award 2026.
Where and when was the 63rd ABU General Assembly held?
In Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 30 October to 3 November 2026, on the theme “Media for Peace and Humanity: Truth, Trust, and Transformation”.
Who is the new ABU President?
Hiroo Yamana, Executive Vice-President of Japan’s NHK, was elected ABU President at the Colombo meetings.
Is India a member of the ABU Administrative Council?
Yes. Prasar Bharati is among the 18 Administrative Councillors listed by the ABU with effect from 1 January 2026.
Also read on NCA: ASEAN Summit: members and key facts | Monthly defence current affairs PDFs | NDA coaching in Chandigarh
Sources: DD News, Akashvani News, ABU – About us, ABU Administrative Council, ABU GA2026 leadership, ABU Robocon. Facts as reported up to 4 November 2026.
Featured image background (representative): Sidheeq / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
