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BIS delineates set top box standards, invites comments by 15 June
The Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2002 may still be awaiting clearance by the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament), but the wheels are moving in other areas.
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has issued a set of specifications as regards the analog set top box that is the cornerstone of the roll out of the proposed conditional access system.
This specifies the performance parameters for analog set top boxes to be used by subscribers for viewing pay channels through the cable distribution system.
The second part of the six-page report outlines the specifications for digital set tops.
The systems – both analog and digital – are primarily intended for sound and television signals operating between 30 MHz and 1 GHz.
On the issue of subscriber management systems, which is one that has particularly worried broadcasters, the document states: “Operators free to choose but it should ensure consumer interest by efficient responsive and accurate billing and collection. At the same time an arrangement must be made between the broadcaster and the cable operator for access to the relevant data relating to the respective channels for billing purposes.”
As far as general requirements go it is stated that: “It should be mandatory for the manufacturer / operator / service provider to declare to the subscriber the capability of the set top box and its inter-operability on other networks so that the subscriber is under no illusion whatsoever regarding the same. The manufacturer should ensure that compatibility / interfacing of set top box with standard consumer electronic goods such as television audio systems and VCRs in the country.”
The BIS notification states that all the standards are subject to revision and invites comments on the issue on or before 15 June.
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Business Today MindRush returns to Mumbai, spotlight on India’s edge in a fractured world
Policymakers and corporate heavyweights gather to map supply chains, energy security and markets
MUMBAI: As fault lines widen across global trade and geopolitics, Business Today is doubling down on India’s moment. The 14th edition of Business Today MindRush & Best CEOs Awards lands in Mumbai on March 28, pitching India’s strategic edge at the centre of a fragmenting world.
The day-long summit, presented by PwC, will bring together a tight mix of policymakers, industry leaders and market voices to decode shifting supply chains, maritime strategy, defence priorities, energy security and capital markets—sectors now deeply entangled with geopolitics.
M Nagaraju, secretary, department of financial services, ministry of finance, will headline the event, setting the tone for discussions that aim to track how India is repositioning itself amid disrupted trade routes and volatile energy dynamics.
The speaker slate reads like a cross-section of India Inc’s command centre. Krishna Swaminathan will zero in on sea lanes and supply chains, while Prashant Ruia is set to push the case for self-reliance in oil and gas. Ashish Chauhan will weigh in on capital markets at a pivotal juncture, as a panel featuring Vibha Padalkar, Sanjiv Mehta, Amish Mehta and Sanjeev Krishan debates navigating economic uncertainty.
Leadership under pressure will be another running theme. Madhavkrishna Singhania, Sharvil Patel, Karan Bhagat and Anurag Choudhary will unpack how businesses are steering through disruption. Arun Alagappan will turn the spotlight on fertilisers, Arundhati Bhattacharya will reflect on leadership transitions, while Anish Shah and S Vellayan will outline blueprints for building future-ready conglomerates.
The event will close with Aroon Purie setting the broader editorial lens, before the Best CEOs Awards recognise standout corporate leadership across sectors.
At a time when the global order looks increasingly splintered, MindRush 2026 is positioning itself as more than a conference—it is a signal that India intends not just to navigate the churn, but to shape it.
