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MIB issues operational guidelines for DTH broadcasting services in lndia
Mumbai: The ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) on Friday issued operational guidelines for obtaining a licence for providing direct-to-home (DTH) broadcasting services in India. The ministry stated that these guidelines have been issued in accordance with the modified DTH guidelines released on 30 December, 2020.
As per the notice, these guidelines provide the operational framework with respect to the payment of licence fees, platform services (PS) channels, and sharing of infrastructure by DTH operators.
The policies outline the timetable for the quarterly payment of the licence fee by DTH operators.
Regarding platform service (PS) channels, the guidelines provide the definition of “platform services” and establish the norms for the DTH operators in running these services, which inter alia include that:
The total number of PS channels permitted per operator is limited to five per cent of the total channel carriage capacity.
All PS must carry a caption as “platform services” to distinguish them from the linear channels.
The content of the PS is to be exclusive to the platform and is not to be shared directly or indirectly with any other distribution platform operator.
All PS channels are to be placed together under the genre “platform services” in the Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) along with their maximum retail price and option for activation/deactivation of PS as per the applicable orders/directions/regulations of Trai.
The operational rules for the DTH operator’s infrastructure sharing set forth the framework within which the sharing may be regulated, the processes for accountability and compliance, and the specific obligations of the parties to the sharing.
These operational instructions are in force as of the order’s issuance date, which is 16 September, 2022.
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.
