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TRAI recommends no change in entry fee for mobile number portability for service providers
NEW DELHI: There should be no change in the entry fee for mobile number portability (MNP) service providers for implementing Full Mobile Number Portability, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India said today.
It also said the Performance Bank Guarantee and Financial Bank Guarantee for the MNP service providers should be continued according to the existing licence conditions.
The recommendations were made in response to the Department of Telecom on additional entry fee, Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) and Financial Bank Guarantee (FBG) to be charged from the existing Mobile Number Portability licensees for enhancement of scope of their licence.
In accordance with the provisions contained in the National Telecom Policy 2012 regarding “One Nation- Full Mobile Number Portability,” TRAI received a reference from the DoT on 27 December 2012, seeking the recommendations of TRAI for implementing full Mobile Number Portability across the country.
After consultation with the stakeholders and examination of various issues, TRAI had given its recommendations on ‘Full Mobile Number Portability’ to the Department on 25 September 2013.
On 2 July this year, the DoT conveyed the acceptance of the said recommendations and requested TRAI to give its opinion for additional entry fee, PBG and FBG to be charged from the existing Mobile Number Portability licensees for enhancement of scope of their license.
The issues indicated in the DoT’s reference have been examined by the Authority and response to the said issues has been finalised.
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.
