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Trai unlikely to give final interconnect regulations this week
NEW DELHI: Broadcast and cable regulator is unlikely to come out with the final interconnect regulations this week as had been envisaged, even as it grapples with diverse feedback on the issue, especially those relating to making available content to all platforms on a mandatory basis.
According to a source in Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), the interconnect regulations are likely to be finalised by next week only, indicating that the divergent views on must-provide has become a ticklish issue for the regulator.
That a storm of a sort is brewing in the Trai cup in the form of must-provide clause or making available channels on a non-discriminatory basis to all platforms cannot be ruled out as most pay broadcasters like Sony Entertainment TV India, Discovery and Star India coming out openly against such a regulation.
Though in private, a Trai member said the attempt would be to balance out the concerns of the broadcasters in the final mandate, but it may prove to be a Herculean task.
A broadcast industry source said that the possibility of somebody moving court cannot be ruled out if Trai insists on the must-provide clause as being described in the draft circulated by the Authority. The broadcast industrys understanding is that it leaves no scope for marketing exclusive content.
For example, Sony Entertainment TV India, in its representation on must-provide, has conveyed to Trai that it would, in effect, be tantamount to copyright infringement if creativity is regulated and denying traditional rights of broadcasters.
The regulation instead should focus on preventing creation of vertically integrated media companies directly. Vertically integrated media companies should offer capacity on their platforms to their competitors at fair and competitive prices, as is the international precedent. Otherwise, a platform owner that also owns channels should offer such channels to competing platforms on terms and conditions no worse than what it has agreed for its own platform, Sony is understood to have told Trai.
Likening its position to a content providers, Trai sources said Sony, in its response, has stated that the draft interconnect regulation does nothing to address the last mile problem and also refers to the lack of any regulation to effect the must carry clause. The argument being must-provide would decrease competition.
Why so? According to Sony, content is the main legal differentiator for this business and thats why it has not agreed to be carried by Dish TV, 20 per cent owned by Zee Telefilms, owing to the latters inability to give satisfactory answers to issues like piracy and other commercial concerns.
Sony has also quoted extensively from global norms like Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) and the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (the Berne Convention), treaties ratified by India, in support of its claims as to why must-provide should not be enforced.
With such viewpoints being expressed, the regulator has to be careful as the primary aim is to benefit the viewers most, the Trai source explained, hinting at the dilemma being faced by the regulator.
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.
