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RSTV editor to be chosen by new panel comprising Prasar chief, MP Dasgupta and journalist Srivastava
MUMBAI: A search-and-select panel comprising lawmakers, senior journalists, Prasar Bharati and Rajya Sabha Secretariat officials has been formed to pick Rajya Sabha Television (RSTV) editor-in-chief.
In an attempt to bring RSTV at par with private news channels, the vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu, who is also the chairman of the Rajya Sabha, has put the panel together.
The committee will be headed by the Prasar Bharati chairman A Surya Prakash and consist of MP Swapan Dasgupta, TV journalist Rahul Srivastava and Prasar CEO Shashi Shekar Vempati. The panel, which will also have a senior bureaucrat as a member, will begin advertising for the position shortly, and come up with a shortlist in 10 days, it is learnt.
A series of discussions have taken place with Naidu on revamping RSTV. The Veep had also ordered a review and rationalisation of RSTV manpower.
The said post fell vacant after the incumbent editor Gurdeep Singh Sappal resigned following the end of the tenure of the vice-president Hamid Ansari as the chairman of the Upper House.
In an order issued on 18 October by the Secretariat, the panel will invite applications and conduct interviews to select a suitable candidate and submit its recommendation to the chairman. It may take at least a month to complete the formalities for the position, it was learnt.
Naidu had earlier reviewed the functioning of RS TV and sought to know from the officials whether the channel needed a CEO since the Secretariat provided administrative support.
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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.
