News Headline
Ficci moots regulator for CAS; suggests three models
NEW DELHI: There should be an independent broadcast regulator to address issues like technology and pricing and to administer the conditional access system, according to Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci).
“Time has come for an independent regulatory structure for broadcasters,” Ficci general secretary Amit Mitra said here today.
He said India could consider three regulatory models – the one that Australia has, another that the US has adopted, and the third one that prevails in Hong Kong, Thailand and NewZealand.
“The Australian one has a portfolio of areas which the regulator looks into, whereas in the United States, regulation is done by a single statutory body. The third model is that adopted by Hong Kong, Thailand and new Zealand where the regulator delves into licensing and content issues,” Mitra said
Speaking on the occasion, the chief of law firm Amarchand Mangaldas Shradul Shorff, also the head of Ficci’s legal cell, said the endeavour should be to streamline the entire CAS rollout and to have a regulatory mechanism at the very basic level, initially.
Ficci, in association with Amarchand Mangaldas, will hold a meeting of all the conditional access system stakeholders in Mumbai on 1 August, a day before a new government-sponsored body on CAS meets there, to discuss the issue, Mitra said here.
Information and broadcasting ministry secretary Pawan Chopra, industry representatives and consumer groups will also participate in the meeting, he added.
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.
