ITV

Category: Regulators

  • ED issues Rs 742.58 crore attachment order against Sun TV group’s Marans

    ED issues Rs 742.58 crore attachment order against Sun TV group’s Marans

    MUMBAI: South Indian media baron Kalanidhi Maran and his brother, the former Union telecom minister Dayanidhi – scions of the powerful DMK party of Tamil Nadu – received a setback late last evening when India’s Enforcement Directorate issued an order to attach properties and assets worth Rs 742.58 crore belonging to them. 

     

    It also ordered that certain assets belong to Kalanithi’s wife Kaveri  be attached. The order was issued following investigation by  the agency under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, says an ED release, and was in relation to an alleged illegal gratification of the same amount Dayanidhi received in the Aircel-Maxis case when he was telecom minister.

     

    The entire money laundering investigation is being done under the eagle eye of the Supreme Court and the ED’s Deputy Director Rajeshwar Singh under the Headquarter Investigation Unit (HIU).

     

    The ED had tweeted earlier in the day that the “ED HIU attaches under PMLA FDs, land & building,shares of Maran brothers worth Rs 742.58 crores in #Aircel-Maxis case.”

     

    Dayanidhi was chargesheeted in that case by the Central Bureau of Investigation in 2011 for coercing Aircel owner C. Sivasankaran during his term as telecom minister  (in 2006) to sell his stake to Maxis which is owned by ageing Malaysian billionaire Tatparanandam Ananda Krishnan.  In return for that companies in Mauritius transferred Rs 742.58 crore allegedly for Dayanidhi into Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd (SDTPL) and South Asia FM Ltd (SAFL)

     

    The EDs investigation revealed that SDTPL is promoted by Kalanithi Maran and Kaveri Kalanithi and they own 80 per cent of its shares. The shareholders of SAFL are  Sun TV Network  (60 per cent) and 20 per cent each are A.H. Multisoft Pvt Ltd  and South Asia Multimedia Technologies Ltd., Mauritius. Kalanithi also holds 75 per cent of Sun TV Network Limited, while he and his wife own 90 per cent and 10 per cent respectively of Kal Comm Pvt. Ltd.

     

    The ED order has attached the following under the PMLA:

     

    * Fixed deposits held by Dayanidhi Maran and others – Rs. 7.47 Crore
    *  Fixed deposits held by SDTPL – Rs. 31.34 Crore.
    *  Fixed deposits held by SAFL – Rs. 6.19 Crore
    * Mutual Funds held by SAFL – Rs.15.14 Crore.
    * Fixed Deposit held by Kalanithi Maran – Rs 100 Crore.
    *  Mutual Funds held by Kalanithi Maran – Rs. 2.78 Crores.
    *  Fixed Deposit held by Kaveri Kalanithi – Rs 1.30 Crore.
    *  Mutual Funds held by Kaveri Kalanithi – Rs. 1.78 Crore.
    *  Land and Building owned by Kal Comm Private Limited – Rs. 171.55 Crores
    * Free Hold Land and Building owned by Sun Network TV Pvt. Ltd – Rs. 266 Crore.
    * Shares of SDTPL held by Kalanithi Maran – Rs. 139 Crore.

     

    The Marans have 120 days to appeal against the ED order.

  • TRAI issues new tariff order for DTH Customer Premises Equipment

    TRAI issues new tariff order for DTH Customer Premises Equipment

    NEW DELHI: While declaring that there will be transparent and upfront declaration of installation and activation charges by direct to home (DTH) operators, which will not exceed Rs 450, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said that the operators will have to mandatorily offer an outright purchase scheme called Standard Scheme for all types of Customer Premises Equipments (CPEs) on a standalone basis.

     

    In the new Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services (Seventh) (the Direct to Home Services) Tariff Order 2015 issued today, TRAI said the aim was to prescribe a framework for commercial interoperability of CPE offered by the operators to their subscribers.

     

    The order says subscribers shall have the option of returning the CPE by paying a nominal collection charge of Rs 300 to the DTH operator or to return the CPE at the designated collection centre.

     

    DTH operators can levy no other charges by any other name other than those specified in the order on the subscribers.

     

    The operators have been given a time of 60 days to align their business processes for compliance with the provisions of the new Tariff Order.

     

    The order provides for transparent price declaration of all types of CPEs by the DTH operators to enable a subscriber to make an informed choice.

     

    Other than the Standard Scheme, the operators may offer additional schemes including bundled schemes and rental schemes.

     

    In the rental schemes, DTH operators can charge a specified one-time interest free refundable security deposit, installation and activation charges from the subscriber during enrolment followed  by specified monthly rental charges. No repair /maintenance charges are permissible from such subscribers.

     

    DTH operators will cater for free maintenance and repairs of CPEs for three years after installation/ activation. In case of outright purchase and hire purchase schemes, DTH operators may levy visitation charges not exceeding Rs 250 per visit after the warranty period has elapsed.

     

    Subscribers shall have an option of buy-back/refund for CPEs in all the offered schemes including bundled schemes with the exception of rental schemes where the subscriber will get back the security deposit.

     

    DTH operators may prescribe a lock-in period not exceeding six months for a subscriber to remain committed. Subscribers can surrender the CPE any time subject to levy of certain charges that have been prescribed.

     

    DTH operators will setup collection centers at every district headquarters to enable easy return of CPEs. Subscribers shall be provided with a toll-free telephone number for registration of request for surrender of connection.

     

    The operators will declare all current schemes on their websites while also publishing all charges for each scheme. Subscribers should be given details of the scheme opted by him.

     

    DTH services in India have been growing at a rapid pace since they were introduced in 2003. Today, there are six private operators offering DTH services to around 73 million subscribers. As these operators have launched the services at different points of time, deploying different transmission and compression standards and encryption solutions, the CPE deployed by one operator may not be compatible with the network of another operator. Therefore, if a subscriber wishes to migrate to another DTH operator or cable TV platform, he is required to invest in the CPE/STB of the other operator. It has also been observed that there is a lack of transparency in various schemes offered by the operators in the market.

     

    The Authority is of the view that the DTH operators in this regard can largely protect interests of consumers through the provision of commercial interoperability of CPEs and mandating transparent and upfront declaration of all charges and conditions at the time of providing service. Commercial interoperability provides for an exit option to a subscriber in case he wishes to change the operator and avail the services from another DTH operator for any reason.

  • 160 MSOs get 10-year licences under DAS for specified areas; 27 denied permission

    160 MSOs get 10-year licences under DAS for specified areas; 27 denied permission

    NEW DELHI: With addition of two more multi-system operators (MSO) from Sikkim and Bihar, the total number, who have been granted permanent registration for 10 years to operate the digital addressable system during the last two months has gone up to 158 as compared to 142 by December-end.

     

     Most of these MSOs had been given provisional permission earlier. Thus five more MSOs have been granted permission after 5 March till 25 March.

     

     The MSOs, who have received permission after 5 March are Siti Maurya Cable Network Pvt. Ltd for areas in all districts in the state of Bihar except Madhepura and Arawal; Sikkim Digital Network for Gangtok city and Kabi, Phodong, Mangan, Chunthang, Lachen, Lachung, Ranka, Ranipool, 32 Mile, Singtam, Central Pandam, Namthang, Majitar, Rangpo, Duku, Pakyong, Rorathang, Rhenock, Rongli Aritar, Dalapchand, Legship, Geyzing, Pelling, Tasiding, Yuksom, Soreng, Dentak, Reshi, Sombaria, Daramdin, Melli, Bermoik, Temi, Tarku, Namchi, Jorethang and Romang; International Cable Network for Bhojpur, Buxar and Rohtash; SaiStar Digital Media Private Limited for Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat, and Vadodara under Phase II, all other areas under Phase III and Phase IV; and Maharaja Entertainment for pan India in all Phases of DAS.

     

    The list of MSOs, who have been refused permission as on 28 February has gone up to 27 from 26 with one more MSO being denied permission. Some of those in the cancelled list applied as early as March 2013.

     

    MSO sources, however, said that the approved list was in addition to the 140 whose names had been approved earlier in March last year.

     

    The Ministry website mib.nic.in has listed the areas and the date from which the MSOs have been given permission.

     

  • Sun to resume distribution of Ortel signals in Vishakapatnam; subject to payment clearance

    Sun to resume distribution of Ortel signals in Vishakapatnam; subject to payment clearance

    NEW DELHI: Sun Distribution Services Pvt. Ltd has been directed to resume the supply of its signals to Ortel Communications Ltd and will also execute the interconnect agreement within one week from that date.

     

    Telecom Disputes Settlement and Arbitration Tribunal (TDSAT) chairman Justice Aftab Alam and member Kuldip Singh also held that Ortel will pay to Sun the payment of Rs 33,89,910 plus Rs 4,22,976 within 24 hours.

     

    In addition to the payments, Ortel will also give to Sun the certificate showing the deduction of taxes.

     

    However, TDSAT made it clear that the payment of Rs 4,22,976 will be subject to the Tribunal’s decision on the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s tariff order relating to inflationary increase, which is currently pending hearing before TDSAT.

     

    Based on a table presented to the Tribunal by Ortel, the admitted dues are Rs 33,89,910 and the difference between the admitted amount and the dues claimed by the respondent is thus Rs 9,42,148.

     

    Ortel’s counsel Samir Sagar Vashistha, who presented the table, explained that this included the sum of Rs 5,18,925 as the amount of taxes deducted at source and the actual dispute is only with respect to the sum of Rs 4,22,976. 

     

    He assured that Ortel will confine its operation within the area of Vishakhapatnam.

     

    Sun counsel A.S. Dugal said the sum of Rs 4,222,976 represented the inflationary increase of 15 per cent allowed by the TRAI’s tariff order.

     

    Vashistha stated that Ortel was willing to pay the sum of Rs 33,89,910 and also give to the respondent the certificate showing deduction of taxes amounting to Rs 5,18,925. In addition, it will also pay Rs 4,22,976 subject to the Tribunal’s decision on the tariff order in question. 

     

    Dugal said the offer was quite fair and the respondent was willing to accept it.

  • FCC proposes rules for satellite TV market modification

    FCC proposes rules for satellite TV market modification

    MUMBAI: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed modifying satellite television market rules to enable satellite subscribers to gain access to in-state news and other programming that they currently are unable to receive. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking implements Section 102 of the STELA Reauthorization Act of 2014 (STELAR). 

     

    The proposal would, as Congress directed, create regulatory parity between satellite and cable television providers. Federal law requires satellite television carriers, such as DIRECTV and DISH Network, to use the Nielsen Company’s Designated Market Area (DMA) assignments to determine, which TV broadcast stations to carry and include in their local programming packages to subscribers. DMAs describe a station’s local television market in terms of a unique group of counties and are defined by Nielsen based on measured viewing patterns. DMAs frequently cross state lines and thus may include counties from multiple states.

     

    Where these multistate DMAs exist, satellite subscribers located in certain out-of-state counties within a DMA (so-called “orphan counties”) are sometimes unable to receive in-state broadcast television stations. This means that some satellite subscribers may lack access to in-state news, sports, public affairs, political information and emergency information, such as severe weather alerts, school closings, road closures and other breaking news. In addition, some of these subscribers may be located in rural areas which are unable to receive in-state stations by means of over-the-air reception and which may have limited, if any, broadband service.

     

    Congress, through Section 102 of the STELAR, gave the Commission authority to modify a commercial television station’s local television market for purposes of satellite carriage rights. Prior to the STELAR, the Commission had authority to modify markets only in the cable carriage context. The Commission proposes to apply the existing cable rule to the satellite carriage context, while adding rules to address the unique nature of satellite television service, such as giving carriers an exception if the resulting carriage is “not technically and economically feasible.” Market modification allows the Commission, on request from a broadcaster or cable operator, to add or delete communities from a particular commercial TV broadcast station’s local television market to better reflect market realities.

     

    The STELAR requires the Commission to issue final rules for satellite television market modification on or before 4 September, 2015.

  • TRAI seeks views to regulate Over-The-Top services

    TRAI seeks views to regulate Over-The-Top services

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today asked stakeholders whether it was too early to establish a regulatory framework for over-the-top (OTT) services, since internet penetration is still evolving, and access speeds are generally low and there is limited coverage of high-speed broadband in the country.

     

    At the same time, TRAI sought opinion on whether a beginning should be made now with a regulatory framework that could be adapted to changes in the future in a Consultation Paper on ‘Regulatory Framework for OTT services.’ The regulator wants stakeholders to send in their comments by 25 April and counter-comments by 8 May.

     

    TRAI wants to know if OTT players offering communication services (voice, messaging and video call services) through applications (resident either in the country or outside) should be brought under the licensing regime.

     

    It has sought suggestions on whether the growth of OTT is impacting the traditional revenue stream of telecom service providers and is the increase in data revenues of the TSPs sufficient to compensate for this impact.

     

    The regulator wants stakeholders to state whether the OTT players should pay for use of the TSPs network over and above data charges paid by consumers, the pricing options that can be adopted and could they include prices based on bandwidth consumption.

     

    Do stakeholders feel that imbalances exist in the regulatory environment in the operation of OTT players? What should the framework to address these issues be, and how can the prevailing laws and regulations be applied to OTT players (who operate in the virtual world)? are some of the questions to which, TRAI wants answers.

     

    At the outset, TRAI has noted that TSPs offering fixed and mobile telephony are currently being overwhelmed by online content, known as OTT applications and services. The term OTT refers to applications and services, which are accessible over the internet and ride on operators’ networks offering internet access services e.g. social networks, search engines, amateur video aggregation sites etc. The best known examples of OTT are Skype, Viber, WhatsApp, Chat On, Snapchat, Instagram, Kik, Google Talk, Hike, Line, WeChat, Tango, e-commerce sites (Amazon, Flipkart etc.), Ola, Facebook messenger, BlackBerry Messenger, iMessage, online video games and movies (Netflix, Pandora). Today, users can directly access these applications online from any place, at any time, using a variety of internet connected consumers. TSPs also means Network providers, Internet Service Providers, fixed and mobile, broadband providers, data service providers, wireless net providers and access providers.

     

    It said the public internet that started in the 1980s has grown in scope over the last three decades. In its current form, it has the added ability to carry the entire gamut of services that are required to be delivered to a consumer of telecom services. It allows a telecom subscriber to access almost all the services required for information, education and entertainment. It has enabled an individual’s commercial transactions including retail; in that respect, it has altogether redefined the conventional marketplace. Even personalized services, such as a taxi ride can be accessed on a person’s fingertips. This growth has also brought about a fundamental shift in other spheres including telecom and TV. Earlier, networks used to be built around specific applications, say voice, internet or Pay TV. Voice, message and video content have now been reduced to mere bytes.

     

    It is becoming increasingly difficult for consumers to know if there is an economic difference in connecting various networks via a land phone, cell phone, or a computer. In fact, young users find it difficult to distinguish among these three networks; from their perspective, all that matters is connectivity. They visualize these not as a layered and interconnected series of discreet networks, but as an organic whole.

     

    The regulator therefore wants to know how the security concerns should be addressed with regard to OTT players providing communication services and what security conditions such as maintaining data records, logs etc. need to be mandated for such OTT players. Furthermore, suggestions are sought on how the OTT players offering app services ensure security, safety and privacy of the consumer.

     

    What forms of discrimination or traffic management practices are reasonable and consistent with a pragmatic approach, the regulator wants to know, and whether the TSPs be mandated to publish various traffic management techniques used for different OTT applications.

     

  • National Supercomputing Mission to launch with Rs 4500 crore corpus

    National Supercomputing Mission to launch with Rs 4500 crore corpus

    NEW DELHI: A National Supercomputing Mission will be launched at an estimated cost of Rs 4500 crore over a period of seven years.

     

    This was decided by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 25 March.

     

    A press note said, “This is a visionary programme to enable India to leapfrog to the league of world class computing power nations.”

     

    The Mission would be implemented and steered jointly by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY).

     

    The Mission envisages empowering national academic and R&D institutions spread over the country by installing a vast supercomputing grid comprising more than 70 high-performance computing facilities. These supercomputers will also be networked on the National Supercomputing grid over the National Knowledge Network (NKN).

     

    The NKN is another programme of the government, which connects academic institutions and R&D labs over a high speed network. Academic and R&D institutions as well as key user departments/ministries would participate by using these facilities and develop applications of national relevance.

     

    The Mission also includes development of highly professional High Performance Computing (HPC) aware human resource for meeting challenges of development of these applications.

     

    The Mission implementation would bring supercomputing within the reach of the large Scientific & Technology community in the country; will provide significant qualitative and quantitative improvement in R&D and higher education in the disciplines of Science & Technology; and enable the country with a capacity of solving multi-disciplinary grand challenge problems. Currently, in the top Supercomputing machines in the world, a major share is taken from advanced countries such as the US, Japan, China and the European Union (EU). The mission envisages India to be in the select league of such nations. To provide continuity in maintaining a lead in supercomputing, the Mission also includes advanced R&D. This will create requisite expertise to build state-of-the-art next generation supercomputing. The Mission supports the government’s vision of “Digital India” and “Make in India” initiatives.

     

    The Mission has been conceptualized and evolved keeping in view the ever increasing computing demand of the scientific and academic community in the country, international technology trends and roadmaps of leading countries in the area, strategic importance and emergence of supercomputing as a benchmark for Scientific & Technological advancements. Two key departments of the Government of India, DeitY and DST will be implementing the mission jointly through two leading organizations. These are the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore.

     

    Worldwide supercomputing facilities have enabled countries in their S&T capabilities in areas such as designing vehicles, aeroplanes, massive structures like high rise buildings and bridges, infrastructure, discovery of new life saving drugs, discovery and extraction of new energy sources including oil, natural gas etc. Over the years, supercomputers have benefitted mankind in several ways. Weather prediction has reached accuracy of forecast as well as real time tracking of natural phenomenon. Timely warning of cyclones in the recent past have saved many lives and property.

     

    The Mission aims to further such capabilities beyond current levels.

  • TRAI imposes financial disincentives and penalties on MSOs

    TRAI imposes financial disincentives and penalties on MSOs

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has notified an amendment to the existing Quality of Service Regulations (QoS) for Digital Addressable System (DAS) by imposing financial disincentives on multi-system operators, who are not complying with the provisions regarding billing and issue of receipts for payment made by the subscribers.

     

    A provision for financial disincentive for an amount not exceeding Rs 20 per subscriber has been made in the amended regulation. The Authority is of the view that enabling the imposition of financial disincentives will be an effective deterrent and will incentivise MSOs to issue bills and receipts to subscribers for payments made.

     

    The QoS Regulations also prescribes that the cable TV services shall be offered to the subscribers both on pre-paid and post-paid payment models with the options being given to subscribers.

     

    In the amendment regulation, an explanation clarifies that the pre-paid option offered by MSO shall be implemented through electronic pre-paid mechanisms. In order to ensure that the MSOs honour the pre-paid or post-paid option given by the subscriber in a timely manner, a financial disincentive of not exceeding Rs 100 per subscriber has been made on the MSO for each contravention.

     

    The Standards of Quality of Service (Digital Addressable Cable TV Systems) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 provides MSOs a time of 60 days to align their business processes for compliance with the provisions of the regulations.

     

    TRAI is of the view that the imposition of financial disincentives would effectively curb the non-compliance of the provisions of the regulations and would benefit consumers and the Cable TV sector.

     

    The QoS Regulation for DAS lays down the norms for the issue of bills to subscribers, and the issue of receipts for every payment made by subscribers.

     

    It was observed that the prescribed norms for billing and issue of receipts for every payment made by subscribers were not being complied with by the MSOs. Such non-compliance has resulted in numerous legitimate consumer grievances. In the absence of a bill, a subscriber cannot ascertain whether the amount demanded by the MSO for the cable TV services is correct or not. Similarly, in the absence of a receipt for the payment made, there is no means to get a grievance redressed in case of any billing related dispute with the operators.

     

    For consumers, such bills and receipts are essential; when it is available to consumers in other commercial markets, why not in the cable TV market?

     

    Because of the non delivery of such bills and receipts by the MSOs, information of actual subscription vis-?-vis billing and payment details are not being entered into the Subscriber Management System (SMS). Consequently, commercial deals and financial transactions amongst operators are not being carried in a transparent manner. It is adversely affecting smooth implementation of DAS as mandated by law.

     

    In absence of proper billing and accounting of receipts, there is a very real possibility of a loss of revenues accruable to the Government. It is essential that the Government gets its due tax revenues arising out of the business of the cable TV services sector.

  • TRAI’s recommendations for reserve price for Phase-III FM radio

    TRAI’s recommendations for reserve price for Phase-III FM radio

    NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today recommended that the reserve price for FM Radio channels for Phase III in a new city is to be set equal to 0.8 times the valuation of FM Radio channels in that city.

     

    Thus, TRAI said the reserve price for FM radio channels for each of the 253 new cities has been fixed at 80 per cent of the valuation for each city.

     

    In its recommendations on the reserve price for all the 253 new cities, TRAI also said the reserve price in 11 border cities in the ‘Others’ category in Phase-III should be Rs 5 lakh per channel, as approved by the Cabinet in the Phase-III policy.

     

    After considering all comments received from stakeholders during consultation process and further analysis of the issues, TRAI said in a consultation paper that the valuation of FM radio channels in 253 new cities has been worked out as a simple mean of the three valuation approaches. The approaches are based on population of the city; per capita Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP); listenership of FM Radio; and per capita Gross Revenue earned by the existing FM Radio operators.

     

    The regulator said it had received a letter from the Ministry on 16 December seeking recommendations of the Authority on reserve prices for auction of FM Radio channels in 264 new cities as per the Phase-III policy guidelines.

     

    In all 831 FM Radio channels in these cities are proposed to be auctioned through an ascending e-auction process as provided in Phase-III policy.

     

    Out of the 264 new cities, 253 cities have a population more than one lakh according to the census data 2011 and are classified as B, C, and D category cities. There are 798 FM Radio channels in these 253 cities, which are proposed to be put up for auction.

     

    The remaining 11 cities having a population less than one lakh are in the border areas of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and the North East (NE) region. There are 33 FM Radio channels in these 11 cities, which are proposed to be put up for auction.

     

    TRAI issued a consultation paper on “Reserve Price for auction of FM Radio channels in new cities” on 6 February. All the comments received were posted on the TRAI website. Subsequently, an Open House Discussion was conducted by TRAI with all the stakeholders on 9 March at New Delhi.

     

  • I&B Ministry wins Platinum Icon award for Comprehensive Web presence

    I&B Ministry wins Platinum Icon award for Comprehensive Web presence

    NEW DELHI: The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has been awarded the Platinum icon award for Comprehensive Web presence in the Web Ratna Awards 2014.

     

    The award was conferred by Communications & Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to R. Jaya, Joint Secretary on behalf of I&B Secretary Bimal Julka along with the New Media Wing team of the Ministry. C&IT Ministry Secretary R S Sharma was also present. 

     

    The award was presented to the Ministry for having a significant presence on all social media sites, which makes it accessible for users through multiple online platforms. The website follows GIGW guidelines. It caters to the information needs of various stakeholders by providing access to all the policies and guidelines issued by the Ministry.

     

    The home page of MIB website has timestamp, giving last update details. The website has a dedicated Hindi version besides regular English version. The portal has a Google enabled search facility to search within the HTML content. The website is based on Content Management System (CMS). 

     

    Prasad called for a collective approach of related Government departments to create a friendly outlook, after presenting the the IIIrd Web Ratna Awards. He said “Digital India” initiative is fundamentally aimed at making Government more people friendly and to bridge the gap between haves and have not through digital empowerment. 

     

    He said that the Government was shortly coming out with “Open Software Policy” to further the process of transparency and credibility in administration. The Department of Posts and Common Service Centers, with presence in nearly four lakh centers, are being deployed to further empower less privileged people by digitalization.

     

    He said with the internet penetration reaching 30 crore, India is only next to China in terms of reach and this number is all set to touch 50 crore in couple of years, India is all set to digitally transform the society.

     

    Web Ratna Awards have been instituted by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, acknowledges unique initiatives/practices of various states/UTs in the realm of e-governance. The Government has been bracing for innovation and transformation in delivery of information/services with adoption of best ICT practices.

     

    Web Ratna Awards recognize these e-governance initiatives and were instituted to appreciate and acknowledge the initiatives and contributions of individuals & institutions and their innovations, which have empowered the Government in achieving the vision of good governance. Web Ratna Awards was instituted in the year 2009.