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BARC Ratings: Colors tops Urban & (U+R) GEC ranking; Star Utsav leads in Rural HSM
MUMBAI: Colors’ new offering Kavach has helped push the Hindi GEC to the pole position in Urban Hindi HSM as well as in Urban + Rural market in week 24 of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) All India data. While in Rural HSM, Star India’s free to air channel, Star Utsav continues to be yards ahead of the rest.
Urban+Rural
On the back of the new Balaji Telefilms’ show Kavach, Colors dominates the Hindi general entertainment channels (GEC) with 664517 Impressions (000s) followed by Star Plus at the second slot with 641404 Impressions (000s) and Zee TV on No 3 with 529237 Impressions (000s).
Star India’s free to air channel, Star Utsav stood at number four with 520494 Impressions (000s) whereas ZEEL’s FTA Zee Anmol bagged the fifth slot with 457988 Impressions (000s).
Sony Pal and Life OK grabbed the sixth and seventh spot with 445750 Impressions (000s) and 417981 Impressions (000s) respectively.
In week 24, Sony Pictures Network(SPN)’s Sab TV and Sony Entertainment Television (SET) occupied the eighth and ninth slot with 367376 Impressions (000s) and 365704 Impressions (000’s).
Rishtey stood at No 10 with 345618 Impressions (000s)
Urban HSM
Even in the Urban Hindi speaking market, Colors continues to marginally lead the Hindi GEC genre with 447336 Impressions (000s) followed by Star Plus with 438480 Impressions (000s) at No 2 and Zee TV on third with 295443 Impressions (000s).
Star India’s second Hindi GEC Life Ok stood at number four with 269294 Impressions (000s) while Sab TV and Sony Entertainment were at No 5 and No 6 with 259711 Impressions (000s) and 254529 Impressions (000s) respectively.
In Urban HSM, Star Utsav ranked No 7 with 116736 Impressions (000s) followed by &TV on eighth with 114365 Impressions (000s) and Sony Pal on ninth with 108769 Impressions (000s).
FTA Zee Anmol stood at number ten with 102389 Impressions (000s)
Rural HSM
In Rural HSM, Star Utsav is the front runner with 403758 Impressions (000s) followed by Zee Anmol with 355599 Impressions (000’s) and Sony Pal with 336981 Impressions (000’s) at number three.
Colors’ free to air channel Rishtey was at the fourth spot with 262267 Impressions followed by Zee TV which stood at No 5 with 233794 Impressions (000s) and Colors at sixth spot with 217181 Impressions (000s).
Star Plus was at No 7 with 202924 Impressions (000s) while Life OK and Big Magic stood at eighth and ninth with 148687 Impressions (000s) and 148280 Impressions (000s).
On the other hand, Sony Entertainment Television ranked No 10 with 111175 Impressions (000s)
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.
