admin, Author at ArdorComm Media Group

Zee Media moves to Delhi HC against I&B ministry

Leave a Comment / admin / Media Entertainment & Art Community

In response to the information and broadcasting ministry withdrawing its approval for the news broadcaster to uplink 10 TV channels in the Ku-band (a type of satellite frequency) on the GSAT-15 satellite, Zee Media Corporation Ltd. (ZMCL) has filed a petition with the Delhi High Court. This uplinking gave the media company an unfair advantage over its rivals by making these channels available on DD Free Dish. An order from the ministry last week stated that ten regional news channels, including Zee Hindustan, Zee Rajasthan, Zee Punjab Haryana Himachal, Zee Bihar Jharkhand, Zee Madhya Pradesh Chhattisgarh, Zee Uttar Pradesh Uttarakhand, Zee Salam, Zee 24 Kalak, Zee 24 Taas, and Zee Odisha (now Zee Delhi NCR Haryana), were allowed to operate on C-Band, another form of satellite However, it later discovered that same channels were also accessible via FreeDish, Doordarshan’s direct-to-home service. This occurred due to the proximity, co-location, and lack of signal encryption by both DD FreeDish and Dish TV transponders on the same GSAT 15 satellite. ZMCL responded to I&B’s show cause notice by asserting that the co-location of DD FreeDish and Dish TV on the same satellite and Prasar Bharti’s non-encryption of the signals, which is against DTH regulations, are to blame for the issue. “The order..is perverse as it has been passed in violation of the principles of natural justice. The very complaints on the basis of which the impugned order has been passed have not been shared till date with the Petitioners. Without access to these key documents, the Petitioners have been put at a grave disadvantage and are unable to exercise their right to a free and fair hearing,” ZMCL referred to the order as draconian in its writ petition. The company has underlined that the aforementioned instructions are of a very serious nature, very detrimental to its operations, and have far-reaching effects. Additionally, the media company has said that it hasn’t been given any time to pursue its legal remedies. “It is clear therefore, that the impugned order has been actuated by malice and is aimed to causing unlawful loss to the petitioner and unlawful gains to its competitors,” it has said.

Zee Media moves to Delhi HC against I&B ministry Read More »

IIM Ahmedabad and Nykaa collaborate to establish a research chair in consumer technology

Leave a Comment / admin / Education Community

In order to establish the “Nykaa Chair in Consumer Technology,” the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A) and Nykaa signed an agreement today. The purpose of this partnership is to advance the scientific practise of marketing. The emphasis will be on research and instruction that offers insights on how digital, social, and mobile technologies affect business models, consumer behaviour, and broader social developments, and that makes it easier to use AI and machine learning insights in a market that has been disrupted. In order to quantify the impact of the Internet and new media on consumer and business behaviour and to comprehend the privacy-preserving potential of digital advertising, it will also make use of economic and statistical models. The Chair will also collaborate closely with academics affiliated with already-existing Centers of Excellence in emerging fields of technology, such as the Brij Disa Centre for Data Science (CDSAI) and Artificial Intelligence and the Centre for Digital Transformation (CDT). The nature of technology and its effects on social and economic systems have drastically changed as a result of technological breakthroughs in the previous ten years. Consumer connection through augmented and virtual environments and greater cross-cultural use of digital technologies necessitates awareness of several facets of consumer tech innovation. “Through our partnership with Nykaa, we aim to work together on finding research solutions to some of the immediate, real-time questions in the consumer tech space. We look forward to bringing on board a talented, research focused individual to take up this position at the institute,” said Professor Errol D’Souza, Director, IIMA.

IIM Ahmedabad and Nykaa collaborate to establish a research chair in consumer technology Read More »

Single-window clearance is likely for theatres in a forthcoming model policy

Leave a Comment / admin / Media Entertainment & Art Community

According to an official, the information and broadcasting ministry is developing a model theatre policy in collaboration with all state governments in order to implement a pan-India single-window clearance system and aid with the recovery of the industry, which has been devastated by the covid-led disruptions. Government data shows that the number of screens has decreased from 12,000 to 8,000 since 2017. The two years of the pandemic saw a more pronounced downward trend. Comparatively, China’s number of cinema screens increased from 10,000 to about 70,000 during that time. “In the past five to six years, the number of theatres is on a decline. We must reverse this trend. The ministry has asked the Film Facilitation Office to work with Invest India to come up with a single-window portal for opening theatres, so that more and more theatres can be opened and the public gets to watch the magic of films in theatres. The Centre will also work with the states to create a model theatre policy to ensure states can adopt and work on the same,” Apurva Chandra, the union secretary for information and broadcasting, addressed a gathering on Tuesday at FICCI Frames Fast Track 2022 in Mumbai. According to Chandra, the government is looking at various models, such as the multiscreen movie theatres with a food court, sports arena, and other amenities that are already becoming common in some parts of India. To encourage and enable foreign filmmakers shooting in India, the ministry established the Film Facilitation Office as a part of the National Film Development Corp. (NFDC). It provides filmmakers with a single-window clearance mechanism. Invest India is an organisation that assists foreign investors in finding opportunities and choices in India. Since more and more viewers chose the comfort and convenience of video streaming platforms during the pandemic years, 1,500–2,000 theatres, the majority of which had single screens, have closed their doors, and several more are considering doing the same. In order to reach an agreement on the key provisions of the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2021, Chandra met with a number of members of the industry, including Shibasish Sarkar, president of the Producers Guild of India, Dinesh Vijan, founder of Maddock Films, Apoorva Mehta, CEO of Dharma Productions, R. Balki, Ayan Mukerji, and Gaurav Gandhi. Piracy and the U/A (unrestricted with caution or parental guidance required for audiences under 12 years) subcategory for film certification are among the problems. There was unanimously positive feedback from the industry participants.

Single-window clearance is likely for theatres in a forthcoming model policy Read More »

11 lakh railway employees will get a 78-day bonus

Leave a Comment / admin / Human Resource Community

Eligible Indian Railways employees will receive their productivity-linked bonus (PLB), which is equal to 78 days’ pay, for the twelfth consecutive year. As the ceiling for calculating wage for PLB is set at Rs 7,000 per month, over 11 lakh non-gazetted employees of the Indian Railways can expect to receive around Rs 17,951 each. To maintain staff motivation, the railway unions, however, apparently expected a greater bonus amount this time. It is obvious that the employees contributed to the Indian Railways’ ability to load at least 1,418 million tonnes of freight in 2021–22. The unions believe that the workers should receive a higher bonus because of this. Before Dussehra this year, the workers anticipate receiving a larger bonus now that the festival season has arrived. The Indian Railways had more than two lakh open positions, according to the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR), which merely increased the workload and work pressure for the existing staff. For taking on this extra labour, which helped the Railways generate more revenue, the employees should therefore be compensated. The Railway Board requested the 78-day pay, and the Centre is expected to approve it soon. About 1.156 million non-gazetted railway employees will profit from this PLB for the fiscal year 2021–2022; however, additional expenses of about Rs 2,000 crore will occur.

11 lakh railway employees will get a 78-day bonus Read More »

Government to spend $30 billion to set up 4G and 5G infrastructure in rural India

Leave a Comment / admin / Governance Community

According to IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the government is investing close to $30 billion to create a strong digital infrastructure in rural areas and assure network accessibility for 4G and 5G in every village across the nation. The minister added that the government has already contacted more than 1.5 lakh gram panchayats. Regarding the framework for digital regulation, the minister stated that telecom forms the very core of Digital India. In order to bring high-quality, fast broadband connectivity to every village in the nation and involve people in the growth process, the union minister added, “We are now creating a whole ecosystem of village entrepreneurs, channelising the energies of youngsters to take good quality, high-speed data connectivity to every village in the country while making them a part of the growth journey.” According to Vaishnaw, the government should focus on three major areas of fintech: social inclusion, a digital regulatory framework, and establishing a strong digital infrastructure.

Government to spend $30 billion to set up 4G and 5G infrastructure in rural India Read More »

TCS mandates “3 days a week in office”

Leave a Comment / admin / Human Resource Community

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has sent a note to its employees requiring them to be in the workplace for a minimum of three days a week after attempting to entice them back with a social media campaign. That indicates that TCS is gradually moving towards its 25×25 model. The workforce has been instructed to adhere to the schedule that their team leads, supervisors, or managers have established for them in accordance with the demands of the various projects, even though a deadline for their return to work has not been established. The Company is facilitating the shift to a more hybrid model with improved internal processes. The mail advised the staff that because the company’s clients were already visiting the offices and senior staff had been working from them for some time, it was about time the workers followed suit. As a result, managers must create a roster and ensure compliance. The staff have been made fully aware that failing to follow the mandate or the roster will result in harsh consequences. According to TCS’ 25×25 model, which was unveiled during the pandemic when everyone was instructed to work from home, the goal for which was established at 2025, the company’s objective was to make sure that, at any given time, only 25% of employees were doing so. The Company, on the other hand, is gradually implementing the model while exerting far more control over it.

TCS mandates “3 days a week in office” Read More »

Dropout rates at the secondary level are greater than the national average in more than a dozen states

Leave a Comment / admin / Article/Stories

Several states had secondary school dropout rates that were greater than the national average of 14.6%, including West Bengal, Gujarat, Bihar, and Tripura, according to official data. These states have been advised by the central government to take further measures to lower the dropout rate. The Project Approval Board (PAB), which is part of the Ministry of Education, received this information from the minutes of its meetings about the “Samagra Shiksha” programme for 2022–2023. Between April and July, these meetings were held with several states. As stated in the new National Education Policy, the government aspires to achieve a 100% Gross Enrolment Rate (GER) at the school level by 2030 and views dropout as a barrier. According to the PAB, the dropout rate at the secondary level in 2020–21 was 21.4% in Bihar, 23.3% in Gujarat, 23.8% in Madhya Pradesh, 16.4% in Odisha, 16.6% in Jharkhand, 16.6% in Tripura, and 16.6% in Karnataka. The documents state that there were approximately 61,051 children with special needs (CWSNs) enrolled in Delhi schools throughout the relevant period, of which 67.5 percent either dropped out or were unable to be located. The Delhi administration has been tasked by the PAB to swiftly finish the process of resettling dropout children into the system of mainstream education. In Andhra Pradesh, the secondary dropout rate was 37.6% in 2019–20; however, that number dropped to 8.7% in 2020–21. The PAB has urged the state to keep up its efforts to further lower the dropout rate. The documents state that in Uttar Pradesh, secondary school dropout rates were 12.5% in 2020–21, with an average of 11.9% for boys and 13.2% for girls. In ten districts in West Bengal, there are more than 15% of secondary school dropouts. The state has been urged by the PAB to create a unique action plan to lower this rate. Over 30% of secondary school dropouts were recorded in 19 districts in Assam in 2020–21. In eight districts of Nagaland, this rate exceeded 30%. In Kerala, 7.1% of secondary school students dropped out, compared to 8.41% in Uttarakhand and 10.17% in Goa. According to a recent UNICEF poll, 25 percent of girls drop out of school owing to marriage and 33 percent are affected by domestic work. The UNICEF reported that it was also discovered in numerous locations that children began working as labourers with their families or cleaning people’s homes after finishing school. Anil Swarup, a former secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy, recommended “mapping” children who are not enrolled in school at the ward and gram panchayat levels. Additionally, he recommended holding teacher-parent level meetings in schools at least once a month to raise awareness of this crucial topic. He said that dropout kids should be found and contacted by going to their homes because, occasionally, poor exam results or a difficult family situation are also reasons why students leave school. Source: PTI

Dropout rates at the secondary level are greater than the national average in more than a dozen states Read More »

OTT apps might need to obtain a licence and share revenue with govt

Leave a Comment / admin / Article/Stories, Media Entertainment & Art Community

Due to the federal government’s proposal to broaden the definition of telecommunication providers to include over-the-top (OTT) communication providers, internet-based communication providers, and broadcasting providers in the draft telecom bill, social media apps like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram may need licences to operate in India. Due to telecom service providers’ insistence that the same rules apply to similar services, industry experts warned that the new definition might spark a controversy. Additionally, the OTT communication providers suppliers may need to share income with the federal government as licenced entities. Considering that telecom providers argue for the same-service, same laws, or even the necessity of data localization, there is uncertainty about what the licence would entail. Smaller, independent apps that are not as popular as WhatsApp may face difficulties as a result and perhaps leave India, according to Apar Gupta, executive director of the Internet Freedom Foundation. According to him, since WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, and other OTT communication services are included in the definition of telecom services in the draft bill, they may be subject to a licencing system. According to Rohan Dhamija, managing partner for India and the Middle East at Analysys Mason, “OTT communication services being included in the ambit of telecom indicates licensing, licence fee, and share of revenue from AGR (adjusted gross revenue) with the government could be in the works.” Some experts asserted that the apps might also be subject to regulation by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the autonomous body in charge of overseeing the sector. However, others objected, arguing that such apps were already covered by the IT intermediary rules issued in 2021. Dhamija continued, “Potentially, Trai could come into the picture again for regulating such service providers or apps.” The Trai Act gives it the authority to control telecom services, including cable and broadcasting. In order to establish a regulatory framework for OTT apps that allowed voice or data transmission, Trai issued a consultation paper in 2018. But after consulting with stakeholders in September 2020, it opted against moving forward with any regulations. It had, however, stated that it might revisit the decision in the future. However, it is still early in the process, according to Arun Prabhu, partner and head of the telecom, media, and technology practise at law firm Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas. “The way things appear, there may possibly be a licencing regime (or regulations by Trai or DoT) for these services, but it is still early days,” he added. In addition to in-flight, maritime, broadcasting, internet, and broadband services, the government has expanded the scope of telecom services by incorporating OTT, internet-based, and satellite-based communication services. The government stated in the explanatory note that was included with the bill that, “The new definitions are comprehensive and relevant to present day realities.”

OTT apps might need to obtain a licence and share revenue with govt Read More »

PM Modi will launch 5G services in India on October 1

Leave a Comment / admin / Governance Community

The National Broadband Mission of the government tweeted on Saturday that the introduction of 5G services in India will take place at the India Mobile Congress at Pragati Maidan on October 1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host an event to launch the 5G services, according to the National Broadband Mission. “Taking India’s digital transformation & connectivity to new heights, Hon’ble PM, @narendramodi, will roll out 5G services in India; at India Mobile Congress; Asia’s largest technology exhibition,” it said. Ashwini Vaishnaw, India’s minister of electronics and information technology, had previously stated that the country is preparing for the October launch of 5G services. The services will be expanded following the inauguration, the Union minister added. When speaking at a gathering last week, Ashwini Vaishnaw remarked, “The journey of 5G is going to be very exciting and noted that many countries took multiple years to reach 40 per cent to 50 per cent coverage. But we are targeting a very aggressive timeline and the Government has given a target of 80 per cent coverage in a short time frame and we should definitely cover at least 80 per cent in a very short timeframe.” The Union minister had instructed operators to prepare for the launch of 5G services following the release of spectrum allocation letters in August. On Twitter, the telecom minister wrote: “Spectrum assignment letter issued. Requesting TSPs to prepare for 5G launch”. Service providers including Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, Adani Data Networks, and Vodafone Idea have paid the DoT a total of about 17,876 crore for the spectrum they just acquired in an auction. A record 1.5 lakh crore worth of bids were submitted for the nation’s largest-ever telecom spectrum auction, with Mukesh Ambani’s Jio winning nearly half of the airwaves sold with a bid of 87,946.93 crore.

PM Modi will launch 5G services in India on October 1 Read More »

Researchers at IIT Roorkee develop sentiment analysis method for Sanskrit texts

Leave a Comment / admin / Education Community

An effective technique for Sanskrit text sentiment analysis has been developed by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee. The proposed method has a machine translation accuracy of 87.50% and a sentiment classification accuracy of 92.83%. Due to a lack of enough labelled data, these technologies were not used to their full potential. The study suggested a methodology that includes sentiment analysis, machine translation, and translation evaluation models. The cross-lingual mapping of the source and target languages has been done using machine translations. The sentences that were translated into English are as natural and mature as the original English. The Valmiki Ramayana website, which was created and is still being updated by IIT Kanpur researchers, served as the source of the dataset for this study. To improve classification using only root words and their corresponding suffixes and prefixes, the researchers are going to study the morphological features of Sanskrit. They also intend to assess how well the Sanskrit’s rich morphology is preserved in the English translation. In addition, they hope to acquire a model that can recognise the context of words in many languages and offer word embeddings with smaller dimensions. In the journal “Applied Intelligence,” a research paper describing the model has been published.

Researchers at IIT Roorkee develop sentiment analysis method for Sanskrit texts Read More »

Author name: admin