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Prasar Bharati Board favours separate DD News Hindi & English channels
NEW DELHI: The Prasar Bharati Board is inclined towards bifurcation of the Doordarshan News channel into two – one for Hindi and another for English. However, the Board has sought the views of Doordarshan before taking a final decision.
In a recent meeting, Prasar Bharati sources told indiantelevision.com that the Board had felt that having separate Hindi and English news channels would also help to increase its viewership in rural areas for the Hindi channel and in urban or semi-urban areas for the English News as there would be greater variety.
DD News is the country’s only 24-hour terrestrial TV news channel, as all private channels are satellite-based. The Prasar Bharati board approved the proposal to start a 24-hour news channel in place of DD Metro and it was launched on 3 November 2003.
The DD News mobile app for Android[ and Apple was launched on 7 May 2015 by then I&B Minister Arun Jaitley.
Initially Doordarshan had launched a news channel in partnership with CNN, DD CNNi in 1995.
Later DD again launched its DD News channel by replacing DD Metro in 2003 and assured its availability on terrestrial mode. It telecasts news bulletins daily in Hindi, English, Sanskrit, and Urdu, apart from broadcasting for the hearing impaired.
It carries a daily evenig bulletin known as Metro News where Delhi links to news readers in Mumbai, Chennai, and Mumbai to give news from their respective areas.
It also beams a unique bulletin twice a week known as Good News, where it gives news of individuals who take initiative to improve the enviroument and society around them.
Regional news units attached to different Doordarshan Kendras also telecast daily news bulletins in regional languages. News headlines and breaking news updates are regular features.
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.
