News Broadcasting
Swaraj commissions DD Metro station in Bellary
MUMBAI:Information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday commissioned national broadcaster Doordarshan’s Metro Low-Power Transmitter (LPT) and laid the foundation stone for an FM radio station in Bellary, Karnataka.
Bellary is among 12 places in the country selected for the “narrowcasting” programme to be introduced by Prasar Bharati from 12 October, Swaraj has said. Programmes about local issues and schemes will be telecast to a limited population served by the LPTs.
The I&B ministry is meanwhile, giving final touches to a proposal permitting schools, colleges and other educational institutions to set up their own radio stations to cater to a variety of activities.
Swaraj has said the proposal will be placed before the Cabinet next month and initially IIMs, IITs and residential schools will be targeted. Swaraj’s stated aim is that every school in India should eventually have its own radio.
Once the proposal gets Cabinet approval, the Department of Telecommunications will be approached to allot frequencies to interested institutions. These radio “stations” will have a radius will be limited to about 5 km.
Regarding the controversial Conditional Access System (CAS), The Times of India quoted Swaraj as saying: “We are keeping our options open. It has been passed by the Lok Sabha but not in the Rajya Sabha since the Parliament was stalled. Let’s see what we can do about it.”
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.
