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India’s state broadcaster hunts for new chiefs
NEW DELHI: Prasar Bharati, India’s lumbering state broadcaster, has thrown open applications for two top jobs: director-general of All India Radio (Akashvani) and director-general of Doordarshan, its television network. Both posts, sitting at Level-16 of the pay matrix with salaries ranging from Rs 2.05 lakh to Rs 2.24 lakh monthly, are up for grabs through promotion or deputation for the vacancy year 2026.
The hunt targets Group A officers from All India Services or Central Services holding analogous posts, or those with one year in Level 15 or four years in Level 14. Officers from autonomous bodies, statutory organisations, public sector undertakings, universities and research institutions with equivalent experience may also apply—provided they bring a degree and 25 years of experience, including 15 years in senior executive positions in media, mass communication or public administration.
The broadcaster wants broad knowledge spanning finance, personnel management, current affairs, engineering, technology, communications, arts, culture and education. Applications must reach the Prasar Bharati secretariat in New Delhi by 5pm on 15th December 2025, with proper channel submissions due by 31st December.
Even officers from the Senior Administrative Grade of the Indian Broadcasting Service with four years of regular service can throw their hats in the ring. If selected, their appointments will count as promotions rather than deputations. The deputation period runs three years, though combined with other ex-cadre postings it cannot ordinarily exceed five years.
The closing date is firm. Late or incomplete applications will be binned. Candidates who applied for the same posts during the 2025 vacancy year must start afresh. The bureaucratic wheels grind on, searching for leaders to steer India’s creaking public broadcasting apparatus into an uncertain futur
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.
