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BBC World’s new quiz show to challenge students
MUMBAI: It is time to get into the spirit of testing knowledge in the best brains in the country. BBC World, the BBC’s commercially funded international 24-hour news and information channel, will be introducing a brand-new quiz show University Challenge aimed at students this summer.
The best quizzing teams from top university colleges will vie for top honours in a head-to-head challenge with each other over 27 programmes. The challenge will aim at searching the brightest and the best-informed college students in the country and will cover the gamut of sports, theatre, technology, industries, film, music, dance, science & medicine, television, advertising, art & literature, destinations, cuisine and many other areas. The show will be similar to the one that has been successfully running in UK for the past 40 years.
The nationwide hunt for the best college teams starts with BBC World calling for entries from prestigious colleges across India. To take up this challenge college teams could register and download forms by visiting ww.universitychallenge@funtoo.com.
Commenting on the new programme initiative, BBC World commissioning editor Narendhra Morar was quoted as saying: “With popular quiz shows like Mastermind India, BBC World has always prided itself in being the best in the field. University Challenge is a brilliant quiz format, which will enable Indian college students to experience a truly international level of quizzing. We look forward to announcing the show in a couple of months with British Council through interactive ground events.
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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.
