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Barc taken steps to improve corporate governance & streamline processes: Anurag Thakur
Mumbai: The minister of information and broadcasting Anurag Thakur informed the Lok Sabha on matters concerning Broadcast Audience Research Council (Barc) India ratings and new tariff order (NTO) 2.0 during a session on Thursday.
The minister was queried whether Barc ratings were marred in serious charges of manipulation and what actions it proposed to ensure robust data.
The minister told the Lok Sabha that Barc has taken various steps on corporate governance and on streamlining of processes and their transparency. “The management involved in the ratings generation process has been institutionally removed. The oversight and technical committees within Barc have been strengthened for data validation and methodology. The access protocols for data have been revamped and tightened,” he said.
Ever since news reports published in October 2020 expressed concerns related to TV ratings, “Barc has responded by actively pursuing action against those involved in tampering the samples and had filed 11 FIRs through its vendors across many states,” stated Thakur.
The I&B ministry has also instituted a committee led by Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati to study the concerns related to television rating points (TRPs) and address them in light of fresh recommendations by Trai and technological advancements.
The I&B minister was also asked whether it has come to the notice of the government that some broadcasters are tweaking NTO 2.0 and keeping their popular channels out of the bouquet. Subsequently, whether this has led to viewers paying 50 per cent more in tariffs and in turn if the government has also fixed a maximum price for channels outside of a bouquet.
On the matter of NTO 2.0, the minister said that broadcasters have declared the maximum retail price of their popular channels above Rs 12 and are offering such channels on an a-la-carte basis.
“As per the implementation plan of new regulatory framework 2020 issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) the distribution platform operators (DPOs) are required to declare rates of channels and bouquets offered to consumers by 31 January and thereafter offering to the consumer will be made available from 1 April. Therefore, final prices for the consumers can be ascertained after 31 March when the choice of channels are exercised by consumers,” he explained.
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.
