Skip to main content

Summary of Antrix- devas scam

By

Excerpts from ET article

  • Antrix Corporation was set up as the marketing arm of Isro in 1992
  • company hoped to promote commercial exploitation of space products,technical consultancy services and transfer of technologies developed by Isro
  • A major objective is to facilitate development of space-related industrial capabilities in India
  • Forge Advisors,a US-based strategic consultancy, established an Indian company called Devas Multimedia,with some former Isro scientists on board.
  • Antrix inked a memorandum of understanding with Forge for exploring opportunities in digital multimedia services
  • agreement provided leasing of 90% of the space segment capacity on two satellites for 12 years to Devas
  • Antrixs board approved the draft agreement between the two sides,and the agreement was signed
Two Satellites
  • Antrix committed to build and launch two satellites
  • These two would have helped Devas deliver a range of services such as broadband to remote areas
here's how a scam was discovered
  • there was no tendering for awarding the contract to Devas
  • the Cabinet was not informed that the two satellites were being built by Isro for Devas
  • satellites were leased to Devas at throwaway prices

Counter arguments

  • Antrix-Isro,regularly leases satellite capacity to private firms in the direct-to-home business without tendering
  • Devas was bringing in new technology that had a high risk of failure
  • estimated loss of 2 lakh crore was based on comparing what Devas paid to 3G auction prices
    1. it was a nonsensical comparison because the 3G spectrum and its uses and market are completely different from those of the S-band spectrum and the related technology that Devas would have used

OUTCOME

  • Image of Antrix,which was supposed to be the government space technology arm that would bring in private investment and cutting-edge technology and market Indian space capabilities abroad,remains very badly damaged.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Folk Dances of India

By
India is a land of diverse cultures and traditions. Each region of the country has a unique culture, which is also prominently visible in its various art forms. Almost all the regions of the country have their specific folk music and dance, which proves to be a wonderful way of expression of their community and its traditions. Though these folk dances are not as complex as the classical dance forms, they are very beautiful, because of the essence of rawness in them. Be it the Bihu of Assam, Dol-Cholom of Manipur, Hikal of Himachal Pradesh or Chhau of Bihar, each of the Indian folk dance forms comes across as a reflection of the deep sited beliefs and traditions of a particular culture. The folk dances of any community are performed on almost every special occasion and festival, to express elation and joy. These dances are also considered to be auspicious by many of the tribal communities in the country. Many folk dances are dedicated to the presiding deity of the specific commu...
1 comment
Read more

DBT’s Revolutionary Finding for Public Health: Zinc Significantly Lowers Risk of Treatment Failure in Young Children with Serious Infections

By
The Secretary of Department of Biotechnology, Government of India today claimed to have made a significant stride in the field of improving public health with biotech researches. Speaking to Press he said that a revelation of a recent study by DBT will help in saving the new born children provided its outcome is put into proper application. He said treating young children with suspected serious bacterial infection with zinc in addition to standard antibiotics significantly reduces the likelihood of treatment failure (measured as the need for secondary antibiotic treatment within 7 days, need for intensive care, or death within 21 days), according to new research published  Online First  in The Lancet. In 2010, worldwide, infections were responsible for nearly two-thirds of deaths in children under 5, with around two-fifths of deaths occurring within the first month of life. Of the 1 million neonatal deaths that occur in India every year, more than a quarter are attributed ...
2 comments
Read more

K. G. Balakrishnan

By
Konakuppakatil Gopinathan Balakrishnan  (b. 12 May 1945) is presently the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of India. He is a former Chief Justice of India. He was the first judge from the state of Kerala to become the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He was also the first person of Dalit origin to ascend to the post of the Chief Justice in the Supreme Court of India. His tenure lasting more than three years has been one of the longest in the Supreme Court of India. Public stances, opinions and views Balakrishnan has tried to exempt the Office of the Chief Justice of India from the purview of the Right to Information Act.   He ordered the Supreme Court registry to file an appeal before the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court judgement making the office of the CJI amenable to the RTI act.   He has also spoken about the need for amending the RTI act in the interests of the right to privacy. Bal...
Post a Comment
Read more