News Broadcasting
MIB: Doordarshan clocks 372 crore viewers; Prasar Bharati nets Rs 14,421 crore
Funds channelled into salaries and BIND-led upgrades, Ministry told
NEW DELHI: Prasar Bharati received Rs 14,421 crore in budgetary support between 2020–21 and 2024–25, the ministry of information and broadcasting told Parliament, underlining the government’s continued backing of India’s public service broadcaster.
The funds were deployed primarily towards staff salaries and infrastructure upgrades under the Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) scheme. With an outlay of Rs 2,539.61 crore for 2021–26, BIND is aimed at modernising studios, transmission networks and digital systems across Doordarshan and All India Radio.
Over the same period, Doordarshan recorded a cumulative gross unique viewership of 372.8 crore between 2021 and January 2026, according to estimates by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC). Officials stressed that the figure reflects overall reach rather than sustained engagement levels.
Responding to a query from DMK MP T R Baalu, minister of state for information and broadcasting L Murugan, said Prasar Bharati’s audience base had not seen a sharp decline despite intensifying competition from private television and radio networks.
Murugan told Parliament that Prasar Bharati follows a “nation first” mandate, prioritising public service over ratings or commercial returns. Doordarshan and Akashvani, he said, are required to serve remote, rural, tribal and left-wing extremism–affected regions that are often unwelcoming to private broadcasters.
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.
