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TRAI extends dates for views on AGR issues relating to Spectrum
NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has extended the dates for getting views on minimum presumptive AGR for Spectrum and VSAT licenses.
A release today said comments can be sent on 13 October with countercomments if any by 27 October 2016.Following a query by the Department of Telecom on25 June 2016, TRAI had asked stakeholdersif spectrum assignment on location basis/link-by-link basis on administrativebasis to ISPs, be continued in the specified bands.
In the consultation paper issued following the DoT letter,the regulator has discussed issues relating to minimum presumptive AGR for ISPlicenses and VSAT licenses and other issues raised by DoT in its reference of25 June 2014, and 15 May 2015. The information/clarifications were furnished toDoT in the letter of 2 March 2016.
The DoT had soughtTRAI’s recommendations in terms of clause 11(1) of TRAI Act 1997 (as amended)on:
(A) ISP license (i) Rates for SUC; (ii) Percentage of AGR including minimum AGR; (iii) Allied issues like schedule of payment, charging ofinterest, penalty and Financial Bank Guarantee (FBG).
(B) Commercial VSAT license (i) Floor level (minimum) AGR, based on the amount ofspectrum held by commercial VSAT operators. The Authority said in 2014 it had suo motu undertaken theexercise of review of definition of revenue base (AGR) for the reckoning oflicence fee (LF) and spectrum usage charges (SUC).
The Consultation Paper wasissued on 31st July 2014 and Recommendations on 6 January 2015. The Recommendationsalong with other issues also contain recommendations on minimum presumptiveAGR. In the Recommendations of 6 January 2015, the Authority hadrecommended that minimum presumptive AGR for the purpose of LF and SUC should notbe made applicable for any licenses granted by the Government for providingtelecom services.
Paper available on trai.gov.in
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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.
