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TRAI issues fresh recommendations on unified licensing regime
NEW DELHI: In its new set of recommendations for Unified Licence, Trai has reduced the revenue share licence fee from 15 percent to 6 per cent of the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) with no revenue share and/or entry fee for a number of services.
The framework for the new regime has four categories with Unified Licence at the highest hierarchical level followed by Class licence, Licensing through authorisation and Standalone broadcasting and cable TV licence.
According to a Trai release Unified Licensing will allow any licensee to provide any or all telecom services by acquiring a single license. It may be a matter of relief for service specific licensees as Trai recommends an optional migration at this stage making it mandatory only after 5 years.
Under the proposed regime, Internet telephony, including IP enabled services, will be allowed to Unified Licensee and Niche operators. With an objective to enhance rural teledensity (less than 1 per cent) Niche operators will be permitted to provide all services without any entry fee. With Internet telephony, India will join the group of 80 countries where the Internet telephony service is permissible.
TVis-?-vis broadcasting services, stand alone licenses would be issued under the prevailing process of issuing such licenses by the I&B ministry. This includes allocation of spectrum in consultation with WPC. Whereas if a unified licensee wants to offer broadcasting service, the licensee will have to apply to the I&B ministry in case such clearance is required and fulfil other requirements as prescribed. The content of such a broadcast in any case, would be regulated by the I&B Ministry.
As regards to the service specific licensing regime, validity of these licenses will continue up till two years of implementation of the Unified Licensing regime whereafter the specific service provider will have switch over to a Unified Licence. According to Trai after two years of implementation of the proposed recommendations all new service providers shall be licensed under the new regime.
Nonetheless, benefits of Unified Licensing regime will facilitate customers to access all telecom services including voice, data, cable TV, D-T-H and radio broadcasting through a single wire or wireless medium from a Unified license operator at affordable prices.
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.
