News Broadcasting
India’s industrial base depends on the automotive industry: Bhavish Agarwal
Mumbai: The automotive industry is one of the toughest industries, it is the cornerstone of industrial society, said Bhavish Agarwal, co-founder and CEO, Ola Cabs. Speaking at ABP Network’s second edition of the ‘Ideas of India’ summit on the topic, ‘Come Ride With Me – How I Made It’, he said “This is India’s moment in the sun. It is our mission to lay down advanced technology for future technology generations”.
He explained about the three businesses under the Ola Group, with ride sharing and consumer business as the highest contributor to the company’s revenue. “We are the #1 cab servicing company in India,” he said. “It is a highly profitable business which is why I was planning on announcing an IPO, but because the markets went down, we are planning to do it next year now,” he added. The second business, Ola Electric, has grown with the launch of their electric 2-wheeler scooter. “We need to humanize the EV revolution in India and design products suitable for the Indian market,” he said. Further adding to this, he said, “We are the #1 EV company in India and have surpassed the total of the next two companies. Also, we will be launching our electric bike this year and our electric car by the end of next year.” He further emphasized, “Our car will be the best in the world.”
Further elaborating on his business ventures, he said, “Through Lithium, our third business, we will use lithium and cell technology to create leverage for India.” Defining his goals, he added, “We will be the largest lithium producer in India.” Emphasizing on the adoption of AI, he said, “New types of jobs will get created because of AI and productivity will increase for the whole economy and that has to be the journey.”
The co-Founder and CEO of Ola Cabs discussed other challenges taken up by the company, such as its set-up of an all-women’s factory employing 3000 young women. “The factory that we are building, we have built Phase 1 which we constructed in record time in less than 8 months,” he said.
The summit promises an invigorating line-up of speakers with prominent figures from the world of business, politics, artists from the Hindi Film Industry, authors and other eminent sectors. The two-day conference confluences diverse ideas from various industries to promote India in becoming a burgeoning leader in the world.
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.
