I&B Ministry
112 MSOs get 10 year licence under DAS for specified areas
NEW DELHI: A total of 112 multi system operators (MSOs) all over the country have been granted permanent registration for 10 years to operate the digital addressable system (DAS).
The MSOs had been given provisional permission earlier. The latest list is as on 22 August.
Those who have got permission include IndusInd Media and Communications, Hathway, Manthan Broadband, Den Network, Home Cable, Digicable Network, Delhi Distribution Company and Asianet Satellite Communications.
According to a list issued in late July, 16 MSOs had been refused permission. It also said that Kolkata based Digicable Communications had been denied permission after the break-up of the joint venture with Digicable Networks of Mumbai, which has received permission for Greater Mumbai, National Capital Territory of Delhi and Greater Kolkata.
MSO sources, however, said that the approved list was in addition to the 140 whose names had been approved in March last year.
The Ministry website mib.nic.in has listed the areas and the date from which the MSOs have been given permission.
I&B Ministry
150 govt websites earn quality certification
From PMO to PSUs, India’s digital portals ace the GIGW standards test as of Jan 2026.
MUMBAI: Clicking all the right buttons, 150 government websites have proudly flaunted their Certified Quality Website (CQW) badges, earning top marks under the Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW) proof that not every online government page is a bureaucratic black hole.
In a crisp Rajya Sabha reply to MP Mallikarjun Kharge, minister of state for electronics and IT Jitin Prasada revealed that as of 20 January 2026, the Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) Directorate had issued exactly 150 valid CQW certifications. That’s a solid lineup, 116 snagged by Central Government portals, six by State Government sites, 14 by Public Sector Undertakings, plus a handful for statutory bodies (2), autonomous bodies (5), e-voting platforms (5), and even two Central Government mobile apps.
The breakdown underscores how the voluntary scheme valid for three years with mandatory re-certification – has spread its quality net wide. High-profile heavyweights like the prime minister’s office, president’s secretariat, CERT-In, UIDAI, CBSE, TRAI, Press Information Bureau, and various ministry hubs have all passed muster. Even critical digital infrastructure, including e-voting setups and financial gateways, made the cut.
Not everyone’s a winner, though, eight hopefuls were shown the digital door for failing to meet GIGW rules. Most current certificates rolled out under GIGW version 2.0, with fresher ones nodding to the upgraded 3.0 benchmarks, a sign the bar keeps rising. Fresh approvals stretch into January 2026, with validity ticking on through 2028 and 2029 for the newest batch.
The certifications date back as far as 2008, but the bulk of today’s valid ones hail from 2023–2026, reflecting a recent push for polished, user-friendly government web presence. Full details? They’re neatly listed on the STQC website for anyone keen to browse the certified club.
In an era where clicking “government site” often means bracing for glitches, these 150 standouts are quietly proving that when it comes to quality, some portals really do load with style.
