News Broadcasting
India is a nation state with many nations within it: UCLA Historian and Professor Vinay Lal
Mumbai : There is a realisation that it is only as a nation-state that you can earn any kind of capital in the world said UCLA Historian and Professor Vinay Lal.
Speaking at ABP Network’s second edition of the ‘Ideas of India’ summit, he said, “It is the project of the government to trace India’s history from 5,000-12,000 years and then suggest that this civilization has been essentially a Vedic civilization right from that period of time.”
Speaking about India being a nation-state, he said, “India is a Nation-state within which there are many nations, this distinction is somewhere elementary but an important distinction to make.”
Drishti IAS founder Vikas Divyakirti, also speaking at ABP Network’s second edition of the ‘Ideas of India’ summit, emphasized on parental training. He said, “Parents should provide a safe space to their child instead of thrusting pressure on them.” He also believed that “English is overvalued” in our society. “The language we speak has nothing to do with the intelligence of an individual. However, there is pre-notion in our society that English-speaking people are smarter than those who don’t.”
The summit promises an energising lineup of speakers, including prominent figures from business, politics, the Hindi film industry, authors, and other eminent sectors. The two-day conference brings together diverse ideas from various industries to help India become a rising global leader.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 rolls out Battle for the States ahead of key polls
Multi-format election coverage tracks voter mood across five battleground states
NEW DELHI: CNN-News18 has launched a special election programming initiative titled Battle for the States, as India gears up for high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.
Built around the theme ‘Road to Power’, the multi-format coverage aims to follow the entire electoral journey, from campaigning and polling to results and government formation. The network is leaning into on-ground reportage and data-backed storytelling to decode voter sentiment across regions where local issues often shape the narrative.
The programming line-up includes ‘Vote Tracker’, a three-part series developed in collaboration with survey agency Vote Vibe. The show blends survey insights with expert commentary and field reporting, using augmented reality graphics to present complex electoral data such as vote share, seat projections and leadership preferences in a more accessible format. It will air every Monday evening until April 6.
Adding a cultural lens to political reporting is ‘So Saree!’, a ground-driven segment where women anchors travel across constituencies dressed in traditional handwoven sarees from each state. The format uses attire as a storytelling device, highlighting regional identity while capturing grassroots voices.
Meanwhile, ‘Unfiltered Kaapi’ and ‘Chai-Niti’ bring a more conversational tone, drawing inspiration from everyday political discussions in tea stalls and coffee corners. These segments aim to break down key issues through candid, fast-paced exchanges between anchors and reporters, tailored to regional sensibilities.
For viewers seeking deeper insights, the weekend docuseries ‘Reporters Project’ takes a longer view, with correspondents travelling across constituencies to map voter concerns and political shifts on the ground.
“Elections are about people, their aspirations, identities and the issues that matter to them, and every state tells a different story,” said CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar. He added that the initiative focuses on understanding “the sentiment on the ground and what’s driving voter choices”.
Echoing the emphasis on credibility, Network18 CEO – English and business news Smriti Mehra said the network aims to combine on-ground reporting with data-led insights to deliver clear and timely coverage as the elections unfold.
With a mix of data, culture and grassroots reporting, CNN-News18 is positioning Battle for the States as a comprehensive window into one of India’s most closely watched electoral cycles, where every vote carries a story waiting to be told.
