News Broadcasting
Rajat Sharma seeks uplink ok for Gujarati news channel
MUMBAI: Amidst the hurly-burly of the news channel business, another one has been lined up to further crowd the airwaves.
This time, it’s the Rajat Sharma-promoted India TV that has got into the action with plans to launch a sibling regional language channel to the Hindi India TV. According to information and broadcasting ministry sources, India TV has sought uplink permission for a Gujarati language news channel.
However, the details of the proposed channel are not forthcoming and India TV was not available for comment.
India TV’s new initiatives comes at a time when other broadcasters, including Sahara, TV Today, NDTV, Broadcast News and Times Global, too are actively working on news and current affairs channels in various Indian languages.
As things stand though, it seems that it will be TV Today’s new offering — working name Surkhiyaan (meaning Headlines) — that is likely to get off the blocks first amongst the new products.
Government sources, while saying India TV’s letter seeking permission came about a fortnight back, admitted that Sharma has requested the ministry to proceed with the formalities on a fast-track basis.
Apart from permission to uplink from India, Sharma’s company has also got the government’s nod for a teleport.
India TV’s post-production and uplink facilities and studios are based on a campus in Noida’s Film City on the outskirts of Delhi.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
