News Broadcasting
Govt. debating whether CAS should be made mandatory?
NEW DELHI: To CAS or not to CAS mandatorily? This is the question that is being debated by the government.
According to a senior government official, “There is a thinking going round in the information and broadcasting ministry that conditional access systems (CAS) should not be implemented with a “must” clause. In other words, not to make it mandatory.”
Though the official was quick to add that “there was nothing formal” to the thinking on CAS in the ministry, he admitted that the current spate of debate on CAS, especially issues related to investments and cost to the consumer, has made it necessary to look at other aspects as well.
The idea is to go in for CAS on an optional basis. Those consumers and cable operators who want to go in for CAS can go in for it, those who don’t want that can continue in the present regime where on an average the monthly cable susbcription fee is Rs 300/month/household, which gives access to over 70 channels.
However, when efforts were made to confirm this from the I&B ministry itself, it came to naught as nobody was willing to talk on the issue.
Meanwhile, a meeting of the industry and some government officials was held at the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) yesterday in Delhi where the various inputs received by BIS on the technical aspects of a set-top box (STB) were discussed.
Some 50-odd people from the cable industry, manufacutueres like Thomson and Philips and the government attended yesterday’s meeting which started at about 10 a.m. and went on till late in the afternoon.
Amongst the many issues discussed was the digital aspect of a STB, including features like connectors and look-ins.
At the meeting it was also discussed what type of technology can a cable operator opt for and whether it should be made mandatory to have a remote control with an analog STB. A digital STB will mandatorily have a remote control.
The BIS is expected to formulate a final report latest by next month for the government’s consideration.
It is also expected that the amendments to the Cable TV (Networks) Regulation Act, 1995, which will facilitate CAS, will sail through the Rajya Sabha (Indian parliament’s Upper House) without too much of a problem.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
