As per the decision of the Finance ministry to constitute a seperate media cell for its publicity in India and abroad, Addl. PIO Deepak Sandhu has been entrusted to head the team. She will be the official spokesperson and will be assisted by a Director in charge of external publicity, a Chief editor in the ranks of deputy secretary and an editor in the ranks of an Under Secretary.

The IIS probationers of 2002 batch conducted a photo exhibition at IIMC. Photos taken during the Jodhpur visit were displayed. Exhibition was opened for foreigners, faculty members and students of IIMC. Dr. B.P. Sanjay, Director of IIMC, was the chief guest. He appreciated the young probationers and gave suggestions for improvements.

The standing committee on IT headed by Somnath Chaterjee expressed that government can not deny its responsibility to make Set-Top-Boxes available for a smooth switch over to the Conditional Access System (CAS) regime. The Committee therefore feels that the (Information and Broadcasting) ministry and Prasar Bharati should ensure that private operators would supply on demand set-top-boxes for viewing the pay channels so as to assure availability, affordability and quality.

The Direct-To-Home (DTH) platform of Doordarshan, which is expected to initially have about 50 free-to-air television channels, will be on "C" Band and not Ku band as expected. The service will be uplinked with the help of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to an INSAT satellite.

India will participate in Broadcast Asia 2003, beginning in Singapore from June 17. India which is in the race of digitalization, is expected to have major presence in this year. India will be best positioned to tempt the world to look for best services and talent in broadcasting and film production.

Prasar Bharati has given approval to AIR to open its first marketing division in the North, which will help in wooing advertisers and expanding the network.

The president of Indian Information Service association, Mr. Ajay Mandlaus told that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting would release the new seniority list concerned about the promotional matters very soon. He also told that the association is very keen to pursue the matter of cadre review, which has been delayed for the past 15 years.