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Doordarshan agrees to apply for permission for four IGNOU channels
NEW DELHI: Doordarshan has agreed to apply for licence to telecast four channels of the Indira Gandhi National Open University, even as the 32 channels of the Human Resource Development Minstry are still to find a place in the pubcaster’s Freedish.
Interestingly, one Gyan Darshan channel and one one Gyani channel had been taken off DD and All India Radio respectively in 2014 for non-clearance of dues.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding now signed between Doordarshan and IGNOU regarding the transmission of four Gyan Darshan Educational channels, DD has agreed to apply for permission to telecast four Gyan Darshan channels from IGNOU Earth Station Delhi to operate in C-band from GSAT-10. IGNOU is not eligible to apply under the Uplinking and Downlinking Guidelines as it is not a broadcaster.
The Gyan Darshan Bouquet of Educational TV Channels is an educational media initiative of MHRD in collaboration with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Prasar Bharati and the Indian Space Research Organization with IGNOU as the nodal agency.
It consists of four TV Channels: GD-I & II (by IGNOU), GD-III – Eklava (by Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi), and GD-IV – Vyas Channel (by University Grants Commission, CEC).
Gyan Darshan had been initially launched on 26 January 2000 as a solitary 24×7 hour satellite channel under the banner of Doordarshan which provided a Transponder on INSAT 2B satellite, free of cost.
Gyan Darshan ran successfully till 2 June 2014 as a must carry channel for educational programmes but was shut down by ISRO to facilitate its migration from INSAT 3C to GSAT-10.
IGNOU now needs to apply for a fresh License to start the uplinking of its Channels for GSAT-10 Satellite.
Speaking on the occasion, DD DG Supriya Sahu said, “I am happy that we have signed this MOU with IGNOU and joined hands with a premier institution like IGNOU. This partnership would ensure that the educational channels of IGNOU reach and benefit millions of students across the country. I think this is one of the most outstanding initiatives in the field of Public Broadcasting”.
IGNOU Vice Chancellor Ravindra Kumar said, “Gyandarshan has always been a flagship programme for IGNOU and educational community. Today we (IGNOU & DD) are both happy and enormously excited that Gyandarshan has once again become a reality.”
Earlier in October 2014, indiantelevision.con and radioandmusic.com had reported that the channels Gyan Darshan and Gyanvani had been shut down because of non-payment. While the figures were DD were not available, AIR DG Fayyaz Sheheryar had said the dues amounted to more than Rs 21.6 crore.
He had then said that it had to be understood that Gyanvani and Gyandarshan were radio and television channels respectively run and owned by IGNOU and Prasar Bharati only provided the platform for the broadcasts.
Later, IGNOU had launched these channels on the Internet. indiantelevision.com had learnt at the time that IGNOU had applied to WPC for a licence to run television channels, but had been refused by the Department of Telecom which had told them that only Doordarshan can apply for such a channel.
But DD had refused to apply for the channel on behalf of IGNOU in view of the report by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India which bars allotment of licences to government bodies to start their own channels.
These web-based channels can be accessed by the students directly from their homes at http://www.ignouonline.ac.in/Broadcast/ without having to go to the Regional Centres or Local Study Centres.
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.
