News Broadcasting
I&B ministry and BIS officials to meet broadcast and cable representatives on Friday
Officials belonging to the information and broadcasting ministry, along with officials from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) will meet representatives from the broadcasting and cable industry on 12 July.
The aim of the meeting is to discuss issues relating to set-top boxes, a necessary accessory once the conditional access system which the government, particularly I&B minister Sushma Swaraj, is keen to bring about, is implemented. A senior BIS official told indiantelevision.com today that the 12 July meeting (to be held a day after the apex body of electronics goods manufacturers, CETMA, holds a seminar on the TV industry with broadcasting industry representations) will discuss the various comments which had been invited on the technical parameters set by BIS for manufacturing of set-top boxes and decide the future course of action.
According to the BIS official, the feedback on the draft standards and specifications circulated earlier has been “favourable and positive.” “Most of the feedback has agreed to what we had said with few suggestions coming on some minor technical issues,” the official said, adding: “Hopefully by mid-August, BIS would be able to finalise the document which will be the industry standard.” However, before CAS is implemented, certain amendments in the Cable TV (Networks) Regulation Act, 1995, facilitating CAS, will need the nod from the Indian Parliament’s Upper House (Rajya Sabha) where the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA government does not have a majority.
I&B ministry sources have indicated that the passage of the Cable TV Amendment Bill in the Rajya Sabha would be fairly easy during the monsoon session of Parliament scheduled to begin later this month. However, critics maintain that despite the I&B ministry’s optimism, certain politicians in the government have not been in favour of CAS.
The BIS official also added that the decoding technique of each channel as and when CAS is implemented would be “proprietary in nature” where the broadcasters will exercise control through the multi-system operators.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
