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MSOs have to now start trial runs on STBs: Trai
MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has directed multi-system operators (MSOs) to start trial runs on homes where they have seeded the digital set-top boxes (STBs) for conditional access system (Cas).
“We have reports of 10 MSOs having conducted the trials for testing out their digital systems under Cas. The deadline starts from today. We want to be sure that there are no glitches in implementation of CAS and the transition is smooth,” said Trai chairman Nripendra Misra while addressing a consumer forum meet today in Mumbai.
The progress is satisfactory and let there be no doubt in the minds of stakeholders that CAS is going to be implemented on the due date, he added. “Digitisation is a way forward and consumers falling under the Cas notified areas should start ordering for STBs from now so that there is no crowding towards the end.”
With effect from 1 January, pay channels in the notified areas of South Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata can be viewed only through the STBs.
The cable and broadcast regulator will encourage various modes of digitalisation, Misra said. “We want to discuss on the road ahead for digitalisation. Besides mandated CAS, we are looking at voluntary spread of digitalisation across all technologies. We will be having a serious of discussions from 27 January-June.”
Clarifying on the issue of taxes, Misra said it did not fall under the purview of Trai. “VAT will be on the deposits and rental schemes of the STBs,” he added.
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.
