I&B Ministry
Prasad says henceforth CAS only after states’ okay
NEW DELHI: Taking a similar line to that he adopted on a just-concluded tour of South India, information and broadcasting minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said today that in future conditional access system (CAS) would be implemented in consultation with the state governments concerned.
“The first phase of CAS implementation has taught us many things. In future wherever CAS is rolled out, it’d be done after having consulted the state government concerned,” Prasad told journalists today during an informal interaction after returning from his tour of South India, including Kerala.
According to Prasad, in places like Bangalore (Karnataka) and Kerala people urged him to bring their cities also under CAS. “I think barring some industry people, there is a growing demand from every walk of life to have a transparent system. CAS is all about that,” he added.
He also said that he has directed his ministry officials to set up state-level implementation committee on CAS, headed by a secretary-level official from the state government, with representation from the industry and the Central government too.
In an aside, the minister also regretted that CAS had become a “politicial issue” in Delhi that had a cascading effect in cities like Kolkata and Mumbai too.
Meanwhile, ministry sources said that the I&B ministry may take up the issue of being made responsible for copyright-related cases, especially those relating to the broadcast, music and film sectors.
At the moment, I&B ministry cannot interfere in copyright issues as despite certain sectors falling within its jurisdiction, the apex Copyright Act empowers the human resources development ministry to take action.
“HRD ministry is responsible for copyright cases related to piracy, but it has not shown much interest in curbing the issue, though the sectors coming under I&B ministry are getting severely effected by untamed piracy, ” a senior I&B ministry official pointed out.
However, observers in Delhi said it would be difficult to take away any responsibility from the HRD minister Murli Manohar Joshi, a hardcore right wing politician of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
I&B Ministry
India rolls out Rs 203 crore TDIP scheme to boost 6G push
Revised policy widens access for startups, boosts global telecom standards play
NEW DELHI: India is doubling down on its telecom ambitions with a revamped Technology Development and Investment Promotion scheme, designed to help the country move from participant to power player in global standards.
The Ministry of Communications on Tuesday unveiled revised guidelines for the TDIP scheme, committing Rs 203 crore for the 2026 to 2031 period. The move aims to strengthen India’s presence in international telecom forums while accelerating homegrown innovation in next-generation technologies, including 5G Advanced and 6G.
At the launch, Ministry of Communications union minister for communications and development of north eastern region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia said the updated framework is intended to give Indian players a stronger voice in shaping global telecom rules.
The scheme focuses heavily on increasing participation in key global bodies such as the International Telecommunication Union, 3GPP and oneM2M. Financial support will be provided for attending international meetings, submitting technical proposals, taking leadership roles, and even hosting global events in India.
The idea is straightforward. If India helps write the rules, its technologies stand a better chance of going global.
Beyond policy rooms and conference tables, the revised scheme casts a wider net across the ecosystem. Startups, MSMEs, academia and research institutions are now explicitly included, opening the door for broader collaboration and faster innovation cycles. Pilot projects, proof-of-concept initiatives and real-world demonstrations will also receive support, helping ideas move from lab to market.
Supporting the rollout will be institutions such as Telecommunications Standards Development Society India, Telecom Centres of Excellence India and Telecommunications Consultants India Limited. These bodies will coordinate efforts, build capacity and ensure industry participation aligns with global opportunities.
The initiative ties in with broader efforts by the Department of Telecommunications, including programmes like the Telecom Technology Development Fund and the Bharat 6G Mission, forming a more cohesive push towards future-ready networks.
Also present at the event were Ministry of Communications minister of state for communications and rural development Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani and Department of Telecommunications secretary (telecommunications) and chairman digital communications commission Amit Agrawal.
With this update, India is not just looking to keep pace with global telecom trends. It is aiming to help define them.
