News Broadcasting
Star News responds to queries; uplink extension decision awaited
NEW DELHI: Star News today whipped up a voluminous reply to the Indian government’s show cause notices, as they are now being dubbed, on various aspects of Media Content & Communication Services India Pvt. Ltd., the company that has applied for uplinking news content for the news channel.
The government would take a stand based on the replies tomorrow, officials say.
Refusing to divulge any details of the replies from Star-MCCS, all that a government official said today was that the clarifications have come and they are detailed and “big”.
“We are studying the replies and would take a decision by tomorrow,” the official added. MCCS’ weekly extension for uplinking from India expires tomorrow midnight, it has been pointed out.
The government feels that MCCS has not stuck to the ‘spirit’ of the rules and regulations that states foreign holding in a news company desirous of uplinking from India can be a maximum 26 per cent.
On MCCS’s part, it feels that its shareholding pattern etc. is very much within the purview of the existing rules and regulations and if the government changes the rules some time in the future, it would adhere to those regulations too.
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.
