Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) Launches 24-Hour News Service

The Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS), Nepal’s state-owned news agency, has officially launched its 24-hour news service today. The service was inaugurated by Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, who also serves as the government’s spokesperson. RSS had been operating the 24-hour Nepali news service on a trial basis since August 27.

The decision to provide round-the-clock news services aligns RSS with international news agencies’ practices and meets the growing demands of its audience both domestically and abroad. Minister Gurung emphasized the importance of this development, stating that as a key source of news, RSS has a significant responsibility to inform the public about events as they happen, regardless of the time of day.

“Almost all media outlets around the world operate day and night. In Nepal, RSS, as an important news agency of the government, has the responsibility to keep the people informed,” Minister Gurung said. He stressed that RSS must not shirk its duty to cover significant events occurring at any time, noting that news of incidents during the night can be of public concern. He expressed confidence that the 24-hour news service would enhance RSS’s relevance and importance, marking it as a significant government achievement.

Dharmendra Jha, the executive chairperson of RSS, reiterated the agency’s commitment to providing news and information from every region, covering all communities, religions, and languages, in line with the principle of proportional inclusiveness enshrined in Nepal’s Constitution. Jha highlighted the expanding scope of news due to rapid technological advancements, particularly in digital media, and emphasized that news dissemination can no longer be limited.

“We believe that the new service will not only benefit the general public but also broaden the scope of information and news. It will help mitigate the spread of misinformation and disinformation, which is increasingly prevalent due to the rapid use of social media,” Jha noted.

RSS General Manager Siddharaj Rai expressed his hopes for feedback and cooperation from media outlets and the public during the service’s trial period. He committed to refining and improving the service based on the suggestions received.

In addition to its Nepali, English, and international news bulletins, RSS has been expanding its services to include photo, audio, audio-visual, opinion, and feature content, responding to the diverse needs of its subscribers and users. RSS is also pursuing a policy of media pluralism by producing and disseminating news bulletins in various mother languages. Last year, the agency began offering news services in Awadhi and is preparing to launch services in Nepalbhasa and Maithili in the near future.

The launch of this 24-hour news service is seen as a major step in modernizing and expanding RSS’s role as a key source of news and information in Nepal.