News Broadcasting
Swaraj favours more teeth for Press Council
NEW DELHI: India’s Information and Broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj today said that the government would consider providing more powers to the Press Council of India, including the penal powers which the Council wants in order to enforce its decisions on offenders.
She said the government is also considering setting up an independent Broadcasting Regulatory Authority for the electronic media to check the onslaught on our culture, traditions and other undesirable telecasts. She invited suggestions from women’s organisations in this regard so that the government could take an overall view before arriving at a decision.
Inaugurating the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of the All India Women’s Conference here today, Swaraj regretted that a large number of serials, telecast mostly on private electronic channels, portray women in a very derogatory manner as if women are always conspiring, quarrelling on small issues and indulging in intrigues.
She said advertisements both in print and electronic media show semi-nude pictures of women, treating woman as a commodity to boost the sales of different products. Films too show women as either submissive and meek or only as objects of pleasure. The struggling and successful aspects of women are not projected to inspire others, Swaraj regretted.
She also inaugurated a seminar on “Women and Media” and released a First Day Special Cover issued by the Postal Department on the Platinum Jubilee of AIWC. Prominent mediapersons who participated in the seminar included journalist Usha Rai, and TV personalities Rajdeep Sardesai, Prabhat Dabral and Deepak Chaurasia.
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.
