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Reliance Jio tops net mobile user additions in March: TRAI
New Delhi: Reliance Jio has gained over 79 lakh mobile users in March, securing a comfortable lead over rivals Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, according to the latest monthly data released by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
The Mukesh Ambani-led company took its customer base to about 42.29 crore. The net mobile user additions in March are double the number recorded in February when the company had added over 42 lakh users.
On the other hand, Airtel’s user base rose to 35.23 crore with the addition of 40.5 lakh wireless users in March, while Vodafone Idea gained 10.8 lakh customers during March, compared to the previous month. The latter’s customer base has now grown to 28.37 crore, as of 31 March.
According to the TRAI data for March, the number of telephone subscribers in India rose to 120 crore, thereby showing a monthly growth rate of 1.12 per cent. The monthly growth rates of urban and rural telephone subscriptions were 0.92 per cent and 1.37 per cent respectively as of 31 March.
The total wireless subscribers increased to 118 crore at the end of March, recording a monthly growth rate of 1.13 per cent. Wireless subscriptions in urban areas increased to 64.5 crore at the end of March and that in rural areas rose to 53.5 crore during the same period. Monthly growth rates of urban and rural wireless subscriptions were 0.93 per cent and 1.38 per cent respectively.
All service areas except Kerala showed growth in their wireless subscribers during the month of March-21. Mumbai area showed maximum growth of 2.93 per cent in its wireless subscriber base during the month.
According to TRAI, the private access service providers held 89.6 per cent market share of the wireless subscribers while the two PSU access service providers BSNL and MTNL had a market share of only 10.32 per cent, as of 31 March.
“As per the reports received from 421 operators in the month of March 2021, the number of broadband subscribers increased from 76.5 crore at the end of February 2021 to 77.8 crore at the end of March 2021 with a monthly growth rate of 1.70 per cent, “said the telecom regulator.
The top five service providers constituted 98.82 per cent market share of the total broadband subscribers. Among these service providers were Reliance Jio (42.5 crore), Bharti Airtel (19.1 crore), Vodafone Idea (12.3 crore).
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.
