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IIS rules amended for a principal DG position in six media units of I&B Ministry
NEW DELHI: Seven posts in six media units of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry will be headed by officials of the rank of principal director general, though only one will be in the higher grade and the others will be in the selection grade.
Although it has still not made any official announcement about changes made in the top posts of some its media units including the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the Ministry has now placed on its website a copy of the Indian Information Service (Group A) amendment rules 2014 as notified in the official gazette late last month.
According to the amendments, one post in each of the six media units – news services division of All India Radio (AIR), director general of Doordarshan, the Registrar of Newspapers in India, the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity, Directorate of Field Publicity, and two posts in the Press Information Bureau (PIB) will be held by principal director generals.
The designation of the incumbent holding the higher grade will be principal director general and it will remain unchanged irrespective of the media unit, except in the Registrar of Newspapers of India where the post will be designated as press registrar.
The insertion of the amended rules comes within two days of the announcement of Neelam Kapur, who had been holding the post of principal director general of media and communication of the PIB, being shifted to the directorate of field publicity and being replaced by Frank Noronha who had been posted in DFP. In another significant change, Archana Dutta who is director general of news in AIR was given additional charge of DD News, whose head SM Khan was placed on compulsory wait.
The amendment also detailed the necessary changes that were being made in the rules of 2013.
Highly placed sources had told indiantelevision.com that while Kapur has not been demoted as she retains her position as principal DG which is of secretary level; the DFP is seen as an office lower in stature to that of PIB, as the head of that office serves as the official spokesperson of the government.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
