News Broadcasting
Govt. panel on surrogate ads issues notices to 10 TV channels
NEW DELHI: The government panel, which also includes some representations from NGOs and the advertising industry, has issued fresh notices to over 10 TV channels late last week over the continued airing of surrogate liquor and cigarettes advertisements.
In a related move, the panel has asked the law ministry to examine whether a crackdown can be enforced on brand promotion on and off air too.
“Fresh notices have been issued to lot of channels last week,” a senior information and broadcasting ministry official told indiantelevision.com today, adding that other aspects of surrogate advertising are being examined as well.
According to the official, while some channels like the Star channels and Sony had agreed to take off surrogate advertisements, what some media companies had done was to shift such surrogate advertisements to sister channels and some have just continued to air such ads.
The official hinted that Sony Entertainment TV’s AXN channel was still airing ads pertaining to liquor products. Ditto for ESPN too.
Sources within AXN however, said till last week, the only clear directive that had come from the I&B ministry on the issue was the notices for two advertisements – McDowell’s Mera Number One and Gilby’s Green Label. These ads had subsequently been removed the sources said.
ESPN officials were not available for comment.
The high-powered government panel, under the chairmanship of I&B additional secretary (broadcasting) Anil Baijal, has also now started looking into the issue whether liquor and tobacco companies can promote their brands through indirect promotion of events too.
“Suppose a liquor company is sponsoring an event (like the recent fashion awards which were brought by Kingfisher/UB Group), it’s indirectly promoting its brand and products. The issue has been referred to the law ministry whether something can be done to curtail such things. The ministry’s views are awaited,” the official said.
The panel also claims that it has managed to arrest the rampant airing of surrogate advertising on TV channels and that it has also succeeded in banning those ads which don’t conform to the code. Like the commercial relating to a brand of salt which was drawing mileage, according to the panel, from the historic Dandi march during the pre-Independence days.
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.
