News Broadcasting
HC rules against Mirchi on FM licence plea
NEW DELHI / MUMBAI: Even as the government awaits the finance ministry’s opinion on the issue of FM radio licence fee, the Bombay High Court has refused to stay the encashment of bank guarantee (by the government) of the Mumbai licence holder (Radio Mirchi).
The case was filed in Mumbai by Entertainment Network India Limited, which runs FM radio stations in several cities under the brand name Radio Mirchi. The petition sought to restrain the government from attaching its bank guarantee in the event of non payment of license fees, which in the case of the Mumbai licence of Radio Mirchi became payable on 25 April.
Government officials in Delhi indicated that generally private FM licence holders were given one week’s time from the deadline to pay up. In Radio Mirchi Mumbai’s case the licence agreement technically came to an end on 18 April.
This one week’s extra time generally granted to the licence holder would mean that others could get time up to 6 May.
Government officials also told indiantelevision.com that they do not propose to go ahead and encash any bank guarantee after the Bombay High Court’s observations today. “We’d like to combine all such cases and take them to the finance ministry and await its response on the matter,” an information and broadcasting ministry official explained.
However, the government made light of Win’s threat to go off the air from tomorrow. Pointing out that the I&B ministry was trying to resolve the matter, the ministry official said such posturing by Win was “unwarranted” as it was the FM radio station’s wish to close down.
Meanwhile, all private FM players, on condition of anonymity, rue the lack of unity within the community. Publicly, they all swear eternal allegiance to the cause of FM radio in the country.
With the Radio Mirchi petition turned down by the High Court, one of the few flickers of hope for the industry has died. Individually, each player is struggling to find a solution to the impasse or getting ready to shell out the hefty license fee. Win 94.6 has decided to go off the airwaves from 11 pm tomorrow. It is trying to drum up public support for this initiative through announcements on the station today, but among its counterparts in the industry, there is only tacit support. “If only all the players would get together and collectively close down, even if for a short period, it would focus government attention on the issue,” says one player.
For now, the Millennium Broadcast backed Win is fighting its lone battle in the manner best known to it. Win resorted to the same strategy in May 2003, when its license fees were due and it refused to pay for over a month. This time, again, it says the closure will be indefinite, till the powers that be, see reason and rationalise the license fee structure or temper it with a revenue sharing model.
Time, or the Election Commission, should tell.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
