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Doordarshan to conduct 17th online e-auction for DD Freedish
NEW DELHI: Doordarshan, which held an e-auction for some channels to fill up slots on the direct-to-home Freedish platform on 28 October, has again set a reserve price of Rs 3.7 crore per slot for the 17th online e-auction to be conducted on 12 November.
The e-Auction will be conducted by Synise Techn0ologies on behalf of Prasar Bharati. The reserve price in the 15th e-auction was Rs 3 crore and was raised to Rs 3.7 crore in the last auction.
Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar had told indiantelevision.com earlier that the aim was to reach the target of 97 channels by October-end and 125 by March-end. Prior to the 16th auction, the total number of channels on Freedish was 58.
Meanwhile, a Doordarshan official declined to give the number of successful bids conducted on 28 October as engineers of the pubcaster had to test these channels before verifying any numbers.
A Prasar Bharati official told indiantelevision.com that DD had decided not to disclose the number of slots to be e-auctioned to prevent bidders forming consortia to bid or resort to other malpractices.
The eligibility terms and conditions including other relevant details for this e-auction are displayed on DD website: www.ddindia.gov.in.
However, the participation amount (EMD) in the e-Auction is Rs 1.5 crore, which will be deposited in advance on or before 11 November evening, along with processing fee of Rs.10,000 (non-refundable) in favour of PB (BCI) Doordarshan commercial service, New Delhi.
Applicants have also been asked mandatorily to deposit a demand draft of Rs 5,500 Registration amount favouring Synise Technologies payable at Pune at the time of submission of the application. The time for every slot e-auction will be of fifteen minutes duration.
The applicants must provide details of the Uplink/Downlink permission documents received from the concerned Ministries with the Applications to ensure they are not rejected.
The demand drafts of unsuccessful bidders will be returned immediately or within a week after the e-auction process is completed.
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.
