News Headline
Television is alive and well, says TRAI
MUMBAI: And they say TV – and more specifically – pay TV is dying in India (snicker, snicker). But if one were to go by TRAI figures, you would say otherwise.
According to its annual performance indicators report for 2023-24, the number of registered pay TV channels in the period ended 31 March 2021 were 361 (258 being SD satellite and 103 HD satellite) out of a total of 912 permitted satellite channels. The rest (551) were free-to-air (FTA) broadcasters. (10 other channels were permitted to uplink from India but downlink in other countries only; taking the total number of permitted satellite TV channels to 922.)
This compares to 892 permitted satellite channels consisting of 358 pay TV channels (254 SD; 104 HD) and 534 FTA in the year to 31 March 2023; 885 channels in 2022 made up of 345 pay TV (248 SD channels; 97 HD channels) and 540 FTA; 885 channels in 2021 made up of 327 pay TV (235 SD and 92 HD) and 558 FTA channels. The number of permitted satellite TV channels for the respective years tots up to 903 for 2023; 898 for 2022 and 901 for 2021.
Clearly, the trend line shows that while there was a lull between 2021 and 2022, there has been an impressive upswing in the following years at a time when naysayers have been tom tomming the demise of television. Not only has there been an improvement in quality of TV signals with the transition to HD, but there has also been an increase in the number of FTA channels.
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.
