News Broadcasting
IBF petitions Swaraj for tax sops
NEW DELHI: Broadcasters operating in India have sought relief from the government, including tax sops.
They met information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj recently under the aegis of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) as part of a pre-Budget meeting and submitted a memorandum on the issues they want resolved.
“The IBF members did meet me to present their pre-Budget memorandum and I have assured them that the ministry will do its utmost to have the grievances redressed,” Swaraj said today, adding that the broadcasters also lauded the government’s initiative on conditional access and extended help in bringing about addressability in Indian cable homes.
The three main issues that the broadcasters want resolved or looked into by the government are:
– Waiver of five per cent service tax imposed on broadcasting services
– Lowering of customs duty on equipment meant for broadcasting
– Resolving the issues of tax that is deducted at source by the government.
According to Swaraj, while the first two issues are likely to be taken up by her during her meetings with finance minister Jaswant Singh, she advised the broadcasters to petition the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on the last issue.
During 2001-02, the government had levied five per cent service charge on the likes of studio and recording facilities that, the broadcasting industry had said, would have a negative impact on a sector which was still developing in India.
Since then the issue has cropped up time and again and, earlier this year even resulted in some broadcasters like Star India and Sony Entertainment TV India refusing advertisements from companies and their agencies which did not include five per cent service tax in the release order.
On the customs duty, the IBF’s viewpoint is that the various duties levied on equipment meant for broadcasting is not at par with those meant for the IT industry, even when the same equipment was used by both the IT and broadcasting industries.
“The broadcasters felt a separate duty is levied on a equipment which they brought in , while a lower duty was levied when the same equipment was brought by the IT industry. This, according to them, was a discriminatory practice which should be removed,” Swaraj said.
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.
