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BARC India board forms two-member committee to review data validation & outlier policy
MUMBAI: Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India’s board has constituted a two-member committee to review the TV audience measurement firm’s data validation and outlier policy, Indiantelevision.com has learnt. The board’s decision comes on the back of chaos triggered by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal’s (TDSAT) ruling to permit landing page placement for TV channels. Former BARC chairman Nakul Chopra and Pravin Tripathi are part of the committee.
“This is a great move. We at BARC India welcome the board's decision because as a joint industry body, operating in compliance with the Ministry of I&B, we follow best practises for the industry. An independent overview of the process and any recommendation to improve, are always welcome and we look forward to working with this committee,” a BARC spokesperson told Indiantelevision.com.
Following the TDSAT ruling, BARC had stopped filtering out outlier data (from landing pages from its weekly viewership numbers. However, it reverted to its earlier methodology from week 23 onward citing the mandate of its board and claiming it had received representations received from various stakeholders.
"As per representations received from various stakeholders and as per our board mandate, we are in the interim reverting back to our earlier process for treatment of landing page. The same will be reflective from week 23 onward till further notice. The process is also under review by the board. BARC India cannot identify landing pages. It has been identifying reach outliers. This practice is followed for all channels but the impact is more pronounced for smaller viewership channels like English news, business news and not for genres like Hindi GEC etc,” BARC had stated.
The industry has voiced differing opinions on not just the TDSAT ruling but also BARC’s treatment of landing pages in viewership measurement.
BARC’s weekly viewership numbers with and without landing page data has exhibited contrasting trends particularly in genres like English news. In a sense, the BARC board’s decision can be seen as an attempt to allay fears of a section within the industry that isn’t particularly satisfied with the transparency in the data validation and outlier policy of the TV measurement body.
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.
