iWorld
North-East Region Ministry gets award for best web content
NEW DELHI: The Development of North East Region (DoNER) Ministry has received the Union Information Technology Ministry Award for outstanding website content on its site http://doner.gov.in.
The award titled “Web Ratna Award 2014” under the category of outstanding content was conferred here to Minister Jitendra Singh in recognition of the exemplary efforts made by the DoNER Ministry for promoting e-governance initiatives.
The website http://doner.gov.in is meant to serve as a portal on Northeast, providing information about every sector pertaining to the region as well as the current status of various projects related to tourism, flora fauna, educational institutions, universities, media and communications. In addition, it also provides information regarding demographic profile of the various States of Northeast, the socio-economic parameters and the projects undertaken directly by the DoNER Ministry or through North East Council (NEC).
Complimenting the DoNER Ministry’s project team headed by Joint Secretary A.M. Singh and comprising among others Ashim Kumar Jha and P.K. Pankaj, Dr Jitendra Singh said their efforts for the last few months have not only made the DoNER Ministry more visible but also succeeded in bringing to the centre-stage, the various activities and initiatives undertaken in the Northeast. Being a far flung region with several areas remaining inaccessible or incommunicable, he said, an effective website portal will help in connecting to the people, particularly the youth, living in the remotest of the remotest areas.
Singh disclosed that soon the DoNER Ministry will also have its own toll-free telephone number to make it possible for anybody interested in the Northeast to call up and obtain the desired information without having to pay for the phone call. Meanwhile, he added, a nodal officer has been earmarked to exclusively receive the phone calls from citizens and members of the civil society at telephone number 011-23022304.
He added that the DoNER Ministry has started its activities on fast track both within Northeast as well as outside Northeast with the objective of showcasing Northeast to the outside world and called upon his colleagues in the Ministry to carry forward this mission with a renewed vigour and encouragement that has come in the form of the award received today.
iWorld
JioHotstar enters micro-drama space with 100 shows under Tadka banner
Short-form push targets 300M users as content meets commerce in new format
MUMBAI: JioStar has made a bold play in India’s fast-growing micro-drama space, rolling out over 100 short-form shows under its new Tadka banner on JioHotstar, timed with the massive viewership surge of the Indian Premier League 2026.
The scale of the launch signals clear intent. Rather than testing the waters, the company has dived in headfirst, releasing a wide slate of content on day one. Each show is designed for quick consumption, with episodes running 60 to 90 seconds in a vertical format tailored for mobile-first audiences.
The move comes as India’s micro-drama market, currently valued at around $300 million, is projected to grow tenfold to over $3 billion by 2030. Globally, the format has already proven its mettle, with China’s micro-drama sector recording explosive growth in recent years.
What sets this rollout apart is its built-in monetisation strategy. The shows are free to watch and ad-supported, with brand integrations woven directly into storylines from the outset. It reflects a broader shift where content and commerce are increasingly intertwined, rather than operating in silos.
The timing is equally strategic. With more than 300 million users already tuning in for IPL action, JioHotstar is effectively turning cricket’s biggest stage into a discovery engine for its new format.
The company is not entering an empty arena. Early movers like Kuku TV, MX Player and platforms backed by Zee Entertainment Enterprises have already laid the groundwork, building audiences and validating demand for snackable storytelling.
Now, with scale, distribution and advertiser interest aligning, the big players are stepping in. For JioStar, Tadka may well serve as a proving ground for the next evolution of digital entertainment, where every minute counts and every second sells.
If the bet pays off, India’s next big content wave might just arrive in under 90 seconds.
