News Broadcasting
Entertainment industry submits its budget wish list to Swaraj
A five-year service tax holiday and waiver of customs duty on broadcast uplinking equipment figured prominently in the entertainment industry’s pre budget pitch to information & broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday.
The delegation comprising Ficci, CII and the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) met Swaraj and made a strong representation on several issues that have dogged the industry. Maintaining that the service tax on broadcasting would fetch the government only Rs 1450 million, the representatives asked Swaraj to seek a five-year tax holiday from finance minister Yashwant Sinha. Swaraj is scheduled to meet Sinha on 16 January with the representations. Delegates of the three organizations were unanimous in seeking removal of customs duty on uplinking, downlinking and cinematographic equipment.
A CII release says the chamber has recommended that the customs duties on content creation software like digital camcorders, digital video and tape recorder, digital video tapes and video monitories, which are between 51 and 63 per cent, should be abolished in five years. CII has said that all recorded CDs should be exempted from excise duty and if not possible, a flat rate of Rs 4-5 should be levied. On the issue of piracy, CII has said that an anti-piracy fund should be set up with contributions to such funds be exempted from income tax.
While at it, the industry has also sought the setting up of a Rs 1000-million fund to enable small and medium newspapers easy access to low interest funds. Co-chairman of the Ficci entertainment committee Amit Khanna has said that the delegation also sought the rationalisation of certain direct taxes, including that pertaining to advance tax on films. Among those who attended Monday’s meeting were Aaj Tak CEO G Krishnan, Sahara TV’s Mahesh Prasad, ESPN country head Manu Sawhney, IBF executive director Bhuvan Lal and CII president Sanjiv Goenka.
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.
