I&B Ministry
National conclave deliberates how government policies of last nine years have led to increased citizen trust
Mumbai: Representatives from various sections of society came together at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, at a session titled “Jan Jan Ka Vishwas” to deliberate on how government policies and programmes have contributed to inclusive development during the last nine years. The session was held at the conference “National Conclave: 9 Saal – Seva, Sushasan, Gareeb Kalyan”, organised by Prasar Bharati. The panelists included boxer Nikhat Zareen, actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, UNICEF Representative to India and nurse Cynthia McCaffrey and Padma Shri awardee Shanti Teresa Lakra; environmentalist Anil Prakash Joshi and Divya Jain, co-founder Seekho. The session was moderated by journalist Richa Anirudh.
National Education Policy helping holistic education
UNICEF representative in India McCaffrey said that the government of India conducted a National Achievements Survey, which looked at the system to understand what children are learning and what Indian students really know. “Based on that, the government created policies in order to reach individual students and make the education system stronger. What this leads to is that India has made an investment in foundational learning, ensuring also that we keep children at schools in a safe environment. Swachh Bharat Mission, Ayushman Bharat have all come together to be important parts of a child’s life and bring in convergence in learning. Schemes come together to make sure you have sanitation and nutrition. The government has laid focus on foundational learning with an innovative approach, with skilling through multiple pathways, enabling children to grow up healthy and helping them acquire 21st century skills.” She added that the emphasis given in the National Education Policy on foundational learning, vocational education and entrepreneurial learning has empowered children, enabling them to get a holistic education.
I&B Ministry
Prasar Bharati sets EPG standards for DD Free Dish platform
New specs define 7-day guide, LCN mapping, and device compatibility.
MUMBAI: Your TV guide just got a backstage pass structured, scheduled, and far more in sync. Prasar Bharati has released detailed technical specifications for Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) services on DD Free Dish, laying down a standardised framework for how channels and programme information are organised and delivered. At the core of the update is a defined EPG data structure, covering genre-based categorisation, scheduling formats, and Logical Channel Numbering (LCN). The aim is simple: make navigation less guesswork and more guided experience across the platform’s over 40 million households.
The specifications also introduce a seven-day programme guide window for each channel, alongside clear rules for channel grouping and LCN mapping effectively deciding not just what you watch, but how easily you find it.
On the technical front, the document outlines requirements for Program Specific Information (PSI) and Service Information (SI), including descriptor usage across tables such as PAT, BAT and NIT. It further details service lists and network linkage parameters, giving OEMs and developers a clearer blueprint for integration.
Importantly, the framework is designed to work seamlessly with television sets equipped with in-built satellite tuners, enabling users to access DD Free Dish directly without additional hardware, an incremental but meaningful step towards simplifying access.
The platform will continue to operate on GSAT-15 transponders, using MPEG-4 compression and DVB-S2 transmission standards, ensuring continuity even as the interface evolves.
While largely technical, the move signals a broader push towards standardisation and user-friendly discovery in India’s free-to-air ecosystem because sometimes, the real upgrade isn’t what’s on screen, but how easily you get there.
