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FreeDish iCAS STB: Modern Comm, Velankani, BGM, KMTS & Millennium OEMs shortlisted
NEW DELHI: Five companies including two from Delhi have been shortlisted as original equipment manufacturers for set-top boxes for Doordarshan’s FreeDish on the Indian Conditional Addressable System (iCAS).
This follows the opening of e-tenders on 9 December 2016 after which these OEMs were found suitable for the job.
The manufacturers are: Modern Communications and Broadcast Systems Pvt Ltd of Gandhinagar in Gujarat; Velankani Electronics Private Ltd of Bangalore; BGM Holding Company of Ghaziabad; and KMTS Engineering Pvt Ltd and Millennium Technology who are both from Delhi.
The technology of iCAS has been designed by ByDesign of Bangalore.
Certain terms and conditions have been laid for the five OEMs which were authorised for manufacturing different make and model of STBs for FreeDish. All STB OEMs shall integrate their STBs with the iCAS and DD approved Firmware/Middleware.
The STB OEM shall provide the duly certified integration testing report from the iCAS OEM and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification. Five such STBs will be tested by Doordarshan.
On successful integration and testing of the STBs, Doordarshan will issue a letter of intent to the STB OEM.
The STB OEM shall be required to submit the requisite Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) amount to Doordarshan within 15 days of issues of letter of Intent.
After receipt of the PBG amount, Doordarshan shall enter into an agreement with the STB OEM authorizing it to sell iCAS and DD approved firmware/middleware enabled STBs in India for reception of DD Free Dish DTH Service.
STB OEMs have been advised to contact M /s ByDesignin Bangalore for all STB integration and certification related to iCAS platform.
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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.
