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Basic tier task force compositon to be fixed today
NEW DELHI: The Indian government is expected to finalise today the composition of the task force that will decide the price for the basic tier of free to air television channels once addressability starts being implemented in Indian cable homes.
The deadline for the rollout of conditional access regime in the four metros has been set for 14 July this year.
According to sources in the government, information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj, largely instrumental in pushing through CAS in the Indian parliament, is expected to sign on the file today wherein a list of names to be part of the task force have been enlisted. The task force is expected to be headed by Rakesh Mohan, joint secretary (broadcasting) in the I&B ministry.
“The file has been lying in the minister’s office for a couple of days or so as the minister wants to make sure that the composition is right and every sector that would be involved in CAS is properly represented,” a senior government official explained.
Apart from representation from the government, broadcasters and content providers, there would also be representation of the content carriers (MSOs and cable ops), technical people as also the general public. Consumer activist Akhila Sivadas and consumer rights expert Pushpa Girimaji are also expected to be on the task force to represent the consumers.
The task force will not only decide the maximum price of the basic tier of cable service, but also the minimum number of channels that will have to be included in the basic tier. However, the government or the task force would not specify which individual channels should be carried as part of the basic tier or which all should not be.
In a recent meting with the MSOs and the cable fraternity,the minister had made clear that from the date of notification (15 January ) of the changes made in the Cable TV (Network) Regulation Act, CAS should be implemented in the four metros in the first phase.
Swaraj had also said that the government is exploring the possibility of including a few more cities in the first phase of rollout depending on the availability of set-top boxes (STBs) that is necessary to access the pay channels which have been mandated to be necessarily route through STBs.
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.
