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Tax sop on Set top boxes to continue till 30 September
NEW DELHI: India’s finance ministry would extend by two months the tax sop on import of set-top boxes (STBs) needed for implementing conditional access system. The ongoing incentive period ends on 31 July.
“The finance ministry has agreed to our request of extending the deadline for reduction of import duties on set top boxes till 30 September,” an official of the information and broadcasting ministry said today, pointing out that a notification to this effect would be issued either today or tomorrow.
Fazed by criticism on lack of availability of boxes even while going ahead with conditional access system (CAS) rollout earlier this year, the government had reduced import duties on set top boxes to 5 per cent from about 52 per cent with an aim to give fillip to imports.
With pressure mounting from all sides, the government has now further extended the tax sop.
A few days back, in reply to a query from a fellow parliamentarian, I & B minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had said that, as per data available with the government, slightly over 50,000 boxes had been cleared by the customs till 16 July.
Today, the government official pointed out that though they don’t have an exact fix on the number of boxes as of Monday, the feedback from the industry, including multi-system operators, is that 200,000 STBs are in the country.
The government also has directed the broadcasters to give their final pricing and details of the incentives and promotional activities leading up to CAS rollout.
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.
