iWorld
IPRS rolls out dual push for artistic expression and creator rights in Goa
GOA: The Indian Performing Right Society is gearing up for a blockbuster December in Goa, launching a two-pronged bid to champion India’s musical talent: a high-energy showcase at the Serendipity Arts Festival 2025 and the debut of its first IP Hub, a nationwide initiative designed to arm creators with knowledge, tools and control over their work.
From 15–20 December at Azad Maidan, the IPRS Stage will light up Panaji with a line-up that cuts across regions, genres and generations. The Vayali Bamboo Band will open the stage on 15 December with their handcrafted instruments and earth-rooted sound. In the days that follow, audiences will hear Gulabi Vinyl’s blend of thumri, dadra and ghazals; Beintehaan, a lush curation by songwriter and filmmaker Mayur Puri; the Sufi pulse of Rooh-e-Qawwali led by Shahbaaz Hussain Khan of the Gwalior Gharana; and the rising Ladakhi powerhouse Dashugs, who close the showcase with their mountain-bred sonic grit.
But the festival stage is only half the story. IPRS is also launching its first IP Hub at the Future School of Performing Arts in Goa, the start of a wider network aimed at demystifying copyright, royalties, metadata and monetisation for regional creators. The Hub promises accessible guidance, local-language resources and community-driven learning—an antidote to an industry where too many artists remain uninformed about how to protect their work.
IPRS chief executive Rakesh Nigam called the month a turning point for the organisation, saying the two initiatives “celebrate creativity and strengthen the ecosystem from the ground up”. The Hub’s opening will include an interactive session on 18 December, with insights from creators and industry voices including Puri.
Nilesh Thomas, chief academic officer at the Future School of Performing Arts, said the partnership fits neatly with the school’s goal of preparing creators for sustainable careers that balance artistic growth with industry know-how.
With a festival stage that spotlights India’s sonic brilliance and a grassroots hub built to safeguard the people behind it, IPRS is making a loud, clear statement: the future of Indian music needs celebration—and protection. One beat, one right, one creator at a time.
iWorld
OneOTT partners with UP govt for Project GANGA broadband rollout
Initiative to connect 2M plus households, empower 8,000–10,000 entrepreneurs in 2–3 years.
MUMBAI: Uttar Pradesh just got a digital Ganga flow because when broadband meets ambition, even villages start streaming faster than city traffic. OneOTT Intertainment Ltd. (OIL), the broadband arm of Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS) under the Hinduja Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the State Transformation Commission (STC), Government of Uttar Pradesh, for Project GANGA (Government Assisted Network for Growth & Advancement).
The MoU, signed on 7 March 2026 in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Finance & Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna, aims to empower 8,000–10,000 local entrepreneurs at the Nyaya Panchayat level as independent Digital Service Providers (DSPs). A significant number of these DSPs are expected to be women. The initiative will deliver high-speed broadband to over 2 million households in the next 2–3 years and create direct and indirect employment for more than 100,000 individuals.
Project GANGA will support government priorities in digital education, healthcare and public services while enabling MSMEs and enterprises with reliable connectivity. DSPs will receive structured training, financing assistance, network build-out support and technology enablement.
STC CEO Manoj Kumar Singh said, “Project GANGA is a significant step toward expanding inclusive digital infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh. By empowering local entrepreneurs, the program will strengthen service delivery and ensure affordable digital access for underserved communities.”
OIL, MD & CEO and HGS whole-time director Vynsley Fernandes added, “This initiative reflects our long-term commitment to enabling digital access and economic opportunity at scale. Project GANGA is structured as a multi-year program focused on entrepreneur onboarding, network deployment and workforce development.”
OIL brings execution strength backed by HGS and NXTDIGITAL’s national footprint, which already connects over 5 million homes across more than 4,500 pin codes in 1,500 cities and towns through 15,000 plus franchise partners and over 2 lakh kilometres of fibre infrastructure. The ecosystem will support broadband, IPTV, OTT, CCTV, satellite internet and cybersecurity solutions for households, businesses and public institutions.
In a state racing toward digital inclusion, Project GANGA isn’t just laying cables, it’s laying the foundation for millions to connect, learn, heal and earn, one Nyaya Panchayat at a time.
