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CAG finds holes in the Antrix-Devas deal

Published

14 years ago

June 2, 2012

NEW DELHI: The Comptroller and Auditor General has described the hybrid satellite digital multimedia broadcasting service agreement with Devas as “a classic case of public investment for private profit.”

In the ‘Report on hybrid satellite digital multimedia broadcasting service agreement with Devas’, CAG has said the Department of Space “in its eagerness went beyond its remit as laid down in the Allocation of Business Rules, concealed facts from the Union Cabinet and violated numerous rules, policies and procedures.”

Furthermore, it says “public interest and those of the Government were sacrificed to favour” a private consultancy firm which was promoted by D. Venugopal and M G Chandrashekhar, retired employees of Indian Space Research Organisation.

The Report contains the results of examination of the ‘hybrid satellite digital multimedia broadcasting service agreement with Devas’ entered into by Antrix Corporation Limited on behalf of the Department of Space and Devas Multimedia Limited. The audit was conducted between July 2010 and June 2011.

The Antrix-Devas agreement allowed Devas to provide multiple services such as 4G services (improvement in 3G services), mobile TV services both through satellite and terrestrial route, DTH services, etc., on the same platform. It provided for the launch of two customer-specific satellites for Devas by leasing all 20 transponders of these two satellites.

A total of 70 MHz of S-Band was earmarked for spectrum in 2.6 GHz band to Devas as a part of leasing out the transponders of the two satellites. Orbital slot was to be allocated for an indefinite period to Devas. It indicated a sub-licensing clause which would enable Devas to sub-lease satellite transponders to others.

The breach of existing rules, policies and procedures finds resonance throughout, the CAG Report says, adding that the DoS took upon itself the task of approving the new hybrid SDMB service which as in the case of DTH services was the prerogative of the Union Cabinet. Valuable spectrum frequencies, including 10 MHz meant to be reserved for strategic purpose, were earmarked for Devas without obtaining approval of the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) wing of the Department of Telecom.

The report says the DoS, while seeking approval of the Union Cabinet for the launch of the GSAT-6 satellite in November 2005, “suppressed the crucial fact that it had signed an agreement with only one user, that is Devas, and not with different users as mentioned in the Cabinet note. The agreement with Devas was, in fact, signed well in advance of seeking approval of the Cabinet in January 2005.”

The DoS also failed to inform the Cabinet that GSAT-6 and 6A satellites, proposed to be funded by the Government budget, were almost entirely (only 10 per cent was set apart) to be used by the private commercial entity. To avoid obtaining of approval of the Union Cabinet, DoS estimated the cost of GSAT–6A, the subsequent satellite of a similar configuration after GSAT– 6 at Rs 1.47 billion so that it fell within the financial competence of the Space Commission. The first satellite GSAT – 6, had been costed at Rs 2.69 billion.

To promote the interest of the private consultancy firm, Forge Advisors, USA, the DoS extended to it a host of benefits. Seventy MHz of S-band spectrum was earmarked for an indefinite period to Devas ignoring its revenue potential to the Government.

Subsequent events like the auction of 3G in which the Government received Rs 677.19 billion and auction of Broadband Wireless Access where Government received Rs 385.43 billion revealed that the possibility of obtaining commensurate amounts for providing this commercial service was never explored, the CAG says.

“The special treatment accorded to Devas is also reflected in the fact that in the case of Devas, DoS decided to use the country-specific scarce orbital slot at 83° East for two co-located satellites to be used exclusively by the private customer.”

The Antrix-Devas agreement cherry-picked from two different models (Customer specific satellite agreements and transponder lease agreements) in a way that extended maximum benefits to Devas. DoS further went on to even revise the contract to “reassure the investors’ so that even before engaging in any trading, manufacturing, ground segment development activity and rolling out of any services, it could raise an amount of Rs 5.7576 billion from foreign investors.”

The CAG notes that there is an expectation that the Government should deliver a high standard of integrity in the civil services, public institutions and public services. There is a need to recognise and deal with conflict of interest issues so that the fundamental integrity of decisions, departments and the Government is not undermined. Having the same person holding multiple posts of Chairman ICC, Chairman Space Commission, Secretary DoS, Chairman ISRO and Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Antrix clearly led to a conflict of interest.

This conflict is evident in the multiple roles exercised by Dr. G. Madhavan Nair. As ISRO Chairman, he appointed the Shankara Committee to examine the proposals of Forge Advisors. As Secretary in the DoS, he submitted a note to the Union Cabinet in which critical facts were concealed. As Chairman of the Space Commission, he chaired meetings where approval to GSAT– 6 and 6A satellites were accorded. He failed to convene INSAT Coordination Committee meetings as its Chairman, as a result of which, concerns of key stakeholders, represented through respective Secretaries of Ministries/Departments, were effectively blocked off in the decision-making process.

Since the damage that this could do has been very clearly brought out, among others, by the High-Powered Review Committee, it is evident that the Government would have to ensure that the same person does not hold all the crucial posts and different functionaries are appointed to ensure checks and balances.

The Antrix-Devas deal is a classic instance of failure of the governance structure in which selected individuals, some serving and some retired public servants, were able to successfully propel the agenda of a private entity by arrogating unto themselves, powers which they were not legitimately authorized to exercise. In the parliamentary system of Government, the Cabinet has a role of centrality in the exercise of executive power.

The fact that a group of individuals was able to conceal facts and sidestep the Cabinet is a testimony of the extent of abuse of the trust reposed in them and needs to be addressed, the CAG says.

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Moltbook, the AI-only social network, sparks hype, doubt and fear

Published

2 weeks ago

February 3, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

CALIFORNIA: Moltbook, a Reddit-style social platform built exclusively for artificial intelligence agents, has emerged as the latest obsession in Silicon Valley, drawing intense attention for its explosive growth and surreal bot-driven interactions.

The platform hosts more than 100 communities where AI agents post, argue and joke about topics ranging from governance theory to esoteric “crayfish debugging” concepts. Within days of launch, Moltbook recorded tens of thousands of posts, nearly 200,000 comments and more than 1 million human visitors observing the activity.

Yet the numbers and the autonomy are under scrutiny, as per media reports. A security researcher has suggested as many as 500,000 accounts may trace back to a single address, raising doubts about Moltbook’s membership claims. Many posts could also be the result of humans instructing their AI tools to publish content, rather than bots acting independently.

The platform runs on agentic AI, powered by an open-source tool called OpenClaw, formerly known as Moltbot. Unlike chatbots such as ChatGPT or Gemini, these agents are designed to perform tasks on users’ devices, from sending messages to managing calendars, with minimal human input. Once authorised, they can interact freely on Moltbook.

Some tech figures have hailed the platform as a glimpse of a post-human internet. Head of crypto custody firm BitGo Bill Lees, called it evidence that “we’re in the singularity”.

Academics are less convinced. Petar Radanliev, an AI and cybersecurity expert at the University of Oxford, said the idea of agents acting independently was “misleading”, describing Moltbook instead as automated coordination within human-set constraints. Columbia Business School assistant professor David Holtz, dismissed the spectacle as “thousands of bots yelling into the void and repeating themselves”.

Beyond hype, security worries loom large. ESET global cybersecurity advisor Jake Moore, warned that granting AI agents access to emails, private messages and files risks prioritising efficiency over privacy. Andrew Rogoyski of the University of Surrey said high-level system access could lead to serious damage, from erased data to compromised company accounts.

Even OpenClaw’s founder Peter Steinberger, has felt the darker side of attention, with scammers hijacking his old social media handles after the platform’s rebrand.

For now, Moltbook remains a strange digital zoo: part experiment, part spectacle, where AI agents banter about philosophy, productivity and, occasionally, their fondness for their human operators.

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Apple appoints Avtar Ram Singh as head of international marketing

Published

2 weeks ago

February 2, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

CALIFORNIA: Apple has handed a bigger global brief to a long-time insider. Avtar Ram Singh has taken over as head of international marketing for the App Store, Apple Arcade and the Apple Games app, deepening his remit across one of the company’s fastest-growing businesses.

“I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as head of international marketing, App Store, Apple Arcade and Games App at Apple,” Singh said while announcing the move.

The promotion crowns nearly seven years at Apple, where Singh has led services marketing across Southeast Asia and India and previously served as head of marketing for Southeast Asia content and services, business lead for Apple Podcasts in the region and interim marketing lead for the App Store internationally.

His new portfolio spans three pillars of Apple’s services push. The App Store, which Apple positions as a safe and trusted discovery platform, now attracts more than 850 million average weekly users globally. Since 2008, developers have earned over $550 billion on the platform.

Apple Arcade, the company’s gaming subscription service, offers unlimited access to a catalogue ranging from brain teasers to big-name franchises. The recent addition of Sid Meier’s Civilization VII Arcade Edition brings a AAA PC title to iPhone, iPad and Mac from 5 February.

Then there is the Apple Games app, unveiled at WWDC as a unified destination for games from the App Store and Arcade. It aggregates titles in one place, surfaces personalised recommendations, tracks events and achievements, and lets users compete with friends or connect controllers for a console-like experience.

Singh arrives with a hybrid background in strategy, data and creativity. His career spans digital and social media marketing, business intelligence, content, editorial and analytics across culturally diverse markets. He has worked on brands including P&G, Accor, Audi, UBS, Nikon, Samsung, Sony, Pizza Hut, HBO and Singapore Airlines-linked businesses such as Scoot.

Before Apple, Singh led strategy at Falcon Agency, focusing on performance marketing and ROI-driven digital frameworks. He earlier ran the social practice at Publicis Singapore, where he oversaw operations, business development and regional social strategy for multinational clients. His career also includes roles at Ogilvy-linked Circus Social, Rocket Internet ventures Lazada and Zalora, and research firm IDC in Bangkok, where he analysed technology markets and won early awards for collaboration and client retention.

At Apple, he has been close to several service launches and expansions, including Apple Fitness+ in Singapore, Apple Creator Studio, global podcast subscriptions and new App Store marketing tools.

The timing is notable. Apple’s services business has posted record years, and gaming is becoming a sharper battleground as platforms chase engagement and recurring revenue. Singh’s brief sits at the intersection of content, community and commerce.

In a market where attention is scarce and loyalty scarcer, Apple is betting that sharper storytelling and smarter marketing can keep users inside its ecosystem. Singh now holds the megaphone. The real test will be how loudly the world listens.

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Cloud nine in the capital Bharathcloud plugs Delhi into its AI plans

Published

2 weeks ago

January 30, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Bharathcloud is bringing its cloud closer to power. The Hyderabad-based sovereign AI cloud services provider has opened its Delhi office, marking its formal entry into North India and setting the stage for its next phase of growth.

The expansion comes as India’s digital transformation fuels rising demand for AI-ready cloud infrastructure, driven by wider adoption of artificial intelligence, machine learning, the Internet of Things and data-heavy applications. With the new office, Bharathcloud plans to onboard more than 100 employees in 2026, strengthening its workforce to support customers across government, enterprises, MSMEs and social sectors.

The Delhi presence is expected to sharpen the company’s engagement with organisations seeking secure, scalable and cost-efficient cloud platforms that comply with India’s data sovereignty requirements. It also positions Bharathcloud closer to policy, public sector and enterprise decision-makers in the region.

Founded in Hyderabad, Bharathcloud offers AI-ready cloud infrastructure including Kubernetes-as-a-Service, zero-trust security architecture and multi-level data protection frameworks. Its platform supports AI and ML workloads, blockchain application migration from hyperscalers and distributed data management, with an emphasis on reliability, low latency and operational continuity.

“With the Delhi expansion, we are positioning Bharathcloud to engage more closely with AI-driven enterprises and technology hubs in North India,” said Bharathcloud co-founder Rahul Takallapally. He added that the move would help nurture local cloud and AI talent while accelerating the adoption of secure and resilient AI infrastructure across sectors.

The company currently operates in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow and Chennai, employing over 200 people and serving more than 1,500 clients across manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, IT and media. Aligned with national initiatives such as Digital India and Make in India, Bharathcloud continues to focus on building indigenous AI-cloud infrastructure to support data localisation and the country’s growing appetite for next-generation digital solutions.

With its Delhi office now live, the company is signalling a clear intent: to make sovereign, AI-ready cloud infrastructure not just an alternative, but a mainstream choice for India’s north as well as its tech capitals.