The Himachal Pradesh Circle Conference was held at Rewalsar, near Mandi, on 30th April and 1st May 2026, with good participation of delegates, district secretaries, and office bearers despite the hilly terrain. Com. Rajeev Kumar, Circle President, presided over the conference and Com. Animesh Mitra, General Secretary, inaugurated it. Com. S.D. Sharma, Organising Secretary (CHQ), addressed the gathering on organisational matters. Com. Nek Ram, District Secretary, Mandi, welcomed the delegates and highlighted the difficulties faced by employees in hilly areas. Com. Tara Chand, Circle Secretary, presented the Secretariat Report with accounts, detailing activities and key issues of employees. Delegates and district secretaries actively participated, sharing their concerns and demands. In his address, Com. Animesh Mitra explained the national and international scenario and highlighted issues related to BSNL, particularly PRC and IDA. On the second day, delegates observed May Day before the session, where Com. S.D. Sharma, Com. Tara Chand, and Com. Animesh Mitra spoke on its history and relevance. After the delegate session, elections were held successfully. Com. Rajeev Kumar was elected Circle President, Com. Tara Chand as Circle Secretary, and Com. Ram Chand as Treasurer. The conference concluded with a vote of thanks by Com. Nek Ram, District Secretary, Mandi. Delegates congratulated the Mandi District Union for making the conference a grand success.

The LICE process in BSNL for the year 2026 has commenced. BSNLEU has been continuously pursuing the Management to conduct LICE for promotion of existing staff. In March 2026, the Corporate Office notified 1,503 vacancies in JTO cadre across 24 circles, and the examination is scheduled to be held on 17th May 2026. Earlier, on 24th March 2025, the Corporate Office had notified 2,503 vacancies in JE cadre across 18 circles. It is expected that after completion of the JTO examination, the schedule for the JE LICE will be announced. However, it is unfortunate that in both cadres, some circles remain deprived due to non-availability of vacancies.

It has come to the notice of CHQ that International Workers' Day was observed in many circles and districts across the country with seriousness. While programmes were conducted in offices and exchanges. BSNL employees have also joined in the rallies of Central Trade Unions in some cities and districts. However, it is unfortunate that some circles have not reported their activities. CHQ has received a few photographs of the programmes, which are enclosed herewith.

Recently, it has been reported in the media that the Union Cabinet has taken a decision to provide relief to Vodafone Idea in the telecom sector. According to PTI reports, the government has given a relief package to Vodafone Idea by reassessing its Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) dues. Earlier, the total AGR liability of the company was about ₹87,695 crore. However, after reassessment by the Department of Telecommunications, the dues have been reduced to around ₹64,046 crore, and the company has been granted a five-year moratorium on payments. This effectively gives Vodafone Idea a relief of over ₹23,000 crore. The payments are now scheduled to begin after five years and will be spread over a longer period. The AGR dues arose following a judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, which upheld the government’s definition of AGR and imposed liabilities on telecom companies.

However, it may be noted that Vodafone Idea company is a joint venture between Vodafone Group and the Aditya Birla Group and the central Govt. has taken a decision to give monetary relief to them. It is often argued that while the government is extending relief to private telecom operators like Vodafone Idea, public sector companies such as BSNL are treated differently. This remains a matter of public and political debate in the country also. The Unions and Associations in BSNL have also reacted on the same subject as it is not a level field competition in Telecom sector.

IDA एरियर्स - DoT ने बीएसएनएल बोर्ड से फिर मंज़ूरी मांगी।

पहले ही बताया जा चुका है कि आईडीए बकाया के भुगतान से जुड़ी फ़ाइल DoT के पास लंबित है। अब पता चला है कि DoT ने 29 अप्रैल, 2026 को बीएसएनएल मैनेजमेंट से आईडीए एरियर्स के भुगतान के पक्ष में बोर्ड की सिफ़ारिश जमा करने को कहा है। इसी के अनुसार, DoT ने इस संबंध में बीएसएनएल के सीएमडी को एक पत्र जारी किया है। यह ध्यान देने योग्य है कि बीएसएनएल मैनेजमेंट ने पहले 23.03.2026 के पत्र के ज़रिए DoT को आईडीए एरियर्स के वित्तीय बोझ के बारे में सूचित किया था। हालाँकि, DoT ने एक बार फिर बीएसएनएल मैनेजमेंट से वही स्पष्टीकरण मांगा है। DoT का पत्र इसके साथ संलग्न है।