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Media & entertainment GST issues to be addressed by central excise chief M Srinivas
NEW DELHI: Central Board of Excise and Customs Commissioner M Srinivas will be the representative of the central government with issues relating to media and entertainment in the sectoral committee set up to ensure smooth implementation of GST by timely responding to the issues and problems of their respective Sectors.
These sectoral Working Groups consist of Senior Officers from the Centre and the States.
The Additional Commissioner for Sales Tax based in Pune, Mr Omnarayan Chainsukhji Bhangdiya, will represent the state governments on the Committee.
According to the decision taken in the 14th Meeting of the GST Council on 18th-19th May in Srinagar, 18 Sectoral Groups have been constituted representing various sectors of the economy in order to ensure smooth roll-out of GST. The Committees will primarily interact and examine representations received from trade and industry associations/bodies of their respective sector; highlight specific issues for the smooth transition of the respective sector to the GST regime; and prepare sector specific draft guidance.
In telecom, the central representative is CBEC Joint Secretary Amitabh Kumar while the state representative is Uttar Pradesh CCT Mukesh Kumar Meshram.
For information technology and ITES, the central representative is CBEC Chief Commissioner M Vinod Kumar while the states will be represented by West Bengal CCT Ma Smaraki Mahapatra.
CBEC Principal Commissioner D P Nagendra Kumar will represent the centre on the committee for services received and provided by the Government, while Bihar Additional Secretary (CT) Arun Mishra will represent the states.
The officials of these Sectoral Groups will deal with the issues and the problems of the respective sector(s) they represent. Concerned industry Groups/Associations or even individual industry representative(s) may approach the respective Sectoral Group officers with their problems, if any, relating to GST implementation who, in turn, will try to guide and help them in resolving the same. This exercise will help in dealing with most of the sectoral problems and issues at the local/regional level.
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.
