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Prasad is spared the CAS test in Parliament
NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting minister Ravi Shankar Prasad got off comparatively lightly in the Lok Sabha today when the Opposition’s bid to corner the government on conditional access system (CAS) came a cropper because of lack of time during question hour.
On a day when the question hour was dominated by issues related to ministries of external affairs and labour, the Opposition got less than ten minutes to question the government on CAS.
Things were made easy for the government when despite the Speaker’s assertions on lack of time, an Opposition Member of Parliament insisted on reading out his question in detail taking up precious time.
Prasad got off by stating in the Lok Sabha that since a large number of television sets in the country and the metros are black and white, which cannot receive very many channels, the government thought it best to prescribe a minimum of 30 channels for the basic tier of free to air (FTA) channels.
Prasad further added that some multi-system operators (MSOs) have promised to provide up to 70 channels as part of the basic tier, which is a welcome step. This way, even the rich and the not so rich would have a choice of channels.
However, Prasad admitted that lack of adequate number of set-top boxes (STBs) led the government to postpone the rollout of CAS to 1 September from the earlier deadline of 14 July. To make things easier, an area-wise implementation would be adhered to.
DATA SHOWS 50,000 BOXES CLEARED BY CUSTOMS
Meanwhile, in written replies to fellow parliamentarians on CAS, Prasad clarified that the industry and not the government will be importing the STBs.
“As per the data furnished by the Customs and Central Excise authorities, 50,050 STBs have been imported by various MSOs/cable operators as on 16 July, 2003,” Prasad informed the Lok Sabha, adding that according to the data given by the industry, orders for “large volumes” of boxes have been placed and these are expected to arrive in a phased manner in the next few months.
Dwelling on the indigenous manufacturing of the boxes, Prasad said that local industry is “yet to gear up fully since technology deployed is quite new” and the momentum would pick up slowly with tax sops having been extended by the government.
Assuring the policy makers in the Lower House of Parliament that the government is monitoring the arrival of boxes in the country, Prasad said, “Visits are (being) made to head-ends to assess the level of preparedness and test check of boxes has also commenced to ensure that the boxes conform to the standards published by the Bureau of Indian Standards.”
CONNIVANCE DENIED
Replying to queries raised by 11 parliamentarians on the government proposal to introduce CAS “in connivance with STB manufacturing companies,” Prasad in a written reply denied such charges.
“The implementation of CAS was considered only in consumer interest. The representatives of the Consumer Electronics and Television Manufacturers’ Association (CETMA), who represent the indigenous industry, were consulted at different times,” Prasad said.
According to the minister, CETMA and some manufacturers had appealed for reduction in duty on import of components required for manufacturing boxes, which has been rationalised by the government.
On a query on outdated technology being imported in the name of “digital boxes (MPEG-2),” Prasad informed the Lok Sabha that, the compression standard used worldwide for commercial digital TV broadcast across all delivery platforms like cable, satellite and terrestrial is MPEG-2. However, MPEG-4 is not used for commercial TV broadcast.
“Bureau of Indian Standards has adopted the international cable TV standards known as DVB-C and DVB-CSA, which are based on MPEG-2 technology. These are widely in use and not out dated,” the minister said.
72 FTA & 49 CHANNELS IN INDIA
According to the government, there are, at present, 49 pay channels and 72 FTA channels including 26 Doordarshan channels available in India.
The list laid on the tables in Lok Sabha states that channels like Star News are FTA and would be part of the basic tier, as also NDTV India and NDTV 24×7, which will be “FTA on the date of CAS implementation.”
The list also gives the prices of individual channels as had been indicated by the broadcasters.
CHANNEL-WISE PRICE LIST
Channel Individual price (Rs) Bouquet price (Rs)
Gemini TV 10
Teja TV 5
Sun News 5
KTV 12
SCV 3
Action TV 7
MAA TV 5
B4U Movies 10
ESPN 29 32
Star Sports 29 32
Raj TV 10 14
Raj Digital Plus 10 14
Star Plus 24
Star Gold 10
Vijay TV 10
NGC 10
Star World 14
Adventure One 4
Channel V 8
CNBC 20
Zee TV 25
Zee Cinema 20
Cartoon Network 20
Alpha channels 15 each
Zee News 10
Trendz 10
Reality 5
Hallmark 12
Ten Sports 14
Sony 20
HBO 14
SET Max 14
AXN 10
Discovery English 10
Discovery Hindi 10
Animal Planet 4
Surprisingly the government list puts the cost of channels called Less TV at Rs 72, while Ten Sports’ cost is Rs 14 and Hallmark’s Rs 12.
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.
