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Govt says it is studying Star New replies on editorial control
NEW DELHI:The Indian government today said that it received another set of replies from Star News to queries including those on editorial control of the channel and the company that has applied for uplinking news content from India for the channel and they are being examined.
“We have received the replies and are in the process of studying them,” an information and broadcasting ministry official said today.
Though the official did not give any details of the replies filed by Star News on the channel and Media Content & Communications Services India Pvt. Ltd (MCCS), the company that has applied for uplinking, it was admitted that the government is training its microscope on the ownership and control of the company.
The government feels that majority shareholding in MCCS may rest with Indians, but the actual control lies with the Rupert Murdoch-owned Star, which is a 26 per cent equity stakeholder in the company.
Still, in its application filed before the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), Star News Broadcasting Ltd. has stated that the editorial control rests with resident Indians. Star News’ application seeking clearance from the government to invest 26 per cent in MCCS is still pending with the FIPB as the administrative ministry, the I&B ministry, had asked for a deferment because the case was being studied.
It is expected that the FIPB would take up Star News’s investment case sometime next month, by which time an inter-ministerial group set up to study media laws, in the light of the Star News case, would have had some deliberations on the issue.
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.
