iWorld
Trai issues tariffs for SMS, alerts via CAP platform
Mumbai: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on Tuesday issued Telecom Tariff (69th Amendment) Order 2022 on the tariff for SMS and cell broadcast alerts disseminated through the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) platform during disasters/non-disasters.
DoT allows SMS/cell broadcast free of cost only for a definite period and for events where specific requests for free of cost messages come from NEC/NCMC/SEC/Nodal authorities,” Trai said. However, there are occasions when the government would like to send alert messages to the public forewarning of a possible disaster or occasions where the public has to be informed of special events such as the holding of relief/vaccine/medical camps/specific law and order-related situations, etc.”
During both disasters and non-disasters, the department of telecom (DoT) requested Trai to provide a tariff for SMS and cell broadcast alerts and messages that TSPs will distribute via the CAP platform.
Accordingly, as per extant practice, Trai issued a consultation paper on “Tariff issues related to SMS and cell broadcast alerts disseminated through the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) platform during disasters/non-disasters” on 3 November 2021, seeking comments and counter comments from stakeholders by 1 December 2021 and 15 December 2021, respectively.
After considering the views of all stakeholders/participants and the analysis thereof, the authority inserted schedule XIII to the principal tariff order in clause three of the Telecommunication Tariff Order 1999, which provides the following tariff for SMS and cell broadcast alerts disseminated by service providers through the CAP platform.
The authority decided to prescribe a tariff of paisa two only for SMS alerts/messages sent during disaster and non-disaster situations, other than those sent as per directions issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
Considering the significance of alerts/messages sent as per directions issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the authority has decided that no charges shall be levied for such SMS/cell broadcasts—alerts/messages sent either during a disaster, prior to notification of a disaster, or after the disaster has expired.
Trai said TSPs shall broadcast messages to all subscribers through cell broadcast free of charge during disaster and non-disaster periods.
Gaming
Bluestone FY26 revenue rises to Rs 2,436 crore, turns profitable
Q4 profit at Rs 31 crore, full-year profit at Rs 13 crore vs loss last year.
MUMBAI: From sparkle to numbers, Bluestone seems to be polishing more than just jewellery this year. Bluestone Jewellery and Lifestyle Limited reported a sharp turnaround in FY26, with revenue from operations rising to Rs 2,436 crore (Rs 24,364 million), up from Rs 1,770 crore (Rs 17,700 million) in FY25. The company posted a full-year profit of Rs 13 crore (Rs 131.79 million), a significant recovery from a loss of Rs 222 crore (Rs 2,218 million) a year ago.
Total income for the year stood at Rs 2,486 crore (Rs 24,860 million), compared to Rs 1,830 crore (Rs 18,300 million) in the previous year, reflecting both topline growth and improved operational momentum.
The March quarter, however, told a more nuanced story. Revenue from operations came in at Rs 681 crore (Rs 6,814 million), down from Rs 748 crore (Rs 7,486 million) in the year-ago period, though higher than Rs 461 crore (Rs 4,613 million) in the preceding December quarter. Net profit for Q4 stood at Rs 31 crore (Rs 311.81 million), compared to Rs 68 crore (Rs 688 million) a year earlier, but a clear reversal from a loss of Rs 51 crore (Rs 512 million) in Q3.
Margins were shaped by higher input costs, with raw material consumption rising to Rs 2,204 crore (Rs 22,043 million) for the full year, alongside employee benefit expenses of Rs 282 crore (Rs 2,824 million) and finance costs of Rs 210 crore (Rs 2,104 million). Other expenses came in at Rs 371 crore (Rs 3,715 million), slightly lower than Rs 393 crore (Rs 3,938 million) in FY25.
On the balance sheet front, total assets expanded to Rs 4,961 crore (Rs 49,610 million) as of March 31, 2026, from Rs 3,532 crore (Rs 35,322 million) a year earlier, driven largely by a surge in inventories to Rs 2,672 crore (Rs 26,718 million). Equity also strengthened to Rs 1,803 crore (Rs 18,030 million), nearly doubling from Rs 911 crore (Rs 9,107 million).
Cash flows reflected the cost of growth. Net cash used in operating activities stood at Rs 199 crore (Rs 1,990 million), while investing activities saw an outflow of Rs 239 crore (Rs 2,392 million). Financing activities, however, generated Rs 497 crore (Rs 4,971 million), helping the company end the year with cash and cash equivalents of Rs 108 crore (Rs 1,075 million), up from Rs 49 crore (Rs 487 million).
Earnings per share for FY26 came in at Rs 1.10, a sharp improvement from a negative Rs 79.74 in FY25, underlining the shift from losses to profitability.
With revenue scaling up, costs still glittering on the higher side, and profitability finally back in the black, BlueStone’s FY26 performance suggests a business mid-transition less about shine alone, and more about sustaining it.
