News Headline
MIB’s clearance of 21 more TV channels takes tally to 890
New Delhi: With clearance to twenty-one more private satellite television channels in the past two months, the total number has risen to 890 of which news and current affairs channels number 401.
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has said it had given permission to 1028 channels but later cancelled permission to 138.
With five more channels getting permission in May, the number of general entertainment channels is 489 as on 31 May.
Twenty channels including seven news channels have been permitted to uplink from India but not downlink within the country and there has been no change in this category.
A total of 774 channels including 395 GECs are allowed to uplink and downlink in the country while 96 including 81 GECs are uplinked from overseas but allowed to downlink into TV homes in the country.
After 31 March, the news channels cleared are: News18 Goa, News18 Tamil Nadu, News18 Kerala, News18 Punjab, News18 J&K and News18 Assam/North East of the TV18 Broadcast Ltd; and ETV HD of Eenadu TV Pvt Ltd.
The Non-News channels cleared are & Youth HD and & Music from the Zee Group; Nationcast, NXT, ZAP, Powerplay and UPLEX from Viacom 18; DHAMMAL GUJJUU of Sab Global Entertainment Pvt Ltd; SIX 2 of Multi Screen Media Pvt Ltd,; Goodness TV of Goodnews Channel Pvt. Ltd; MK Tunes and MK Six of Madurai Krishan Network Pvt. Ltd; Sai Sabha of Sai Babha Network Pvt. Ltd; and Shubh Cinema of Shubh Media Pvt. Ltd
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry site (mib.nic.in) also contains the full details of the owners of these channels, the languages in which they will beam, and the date on which the clearance came. However, there are no details of channels denied permission.
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.
