News Broadcasting
India Today’s 46th anniversary issue achieves 25% growth in circulation this Christmas
Mumbai: The 46th anniversary issue of India Today magazine that hit the newsstands this Christmas achieved a 25 per cent growth in circulation, said India Today Group (ITG). The growth post-pandemic has resulted in the magazine recovering 80 per cent of its pre-lockdown (March 2020) circulation till November 2021.
Crossing 135 clients with 376 pages in its 46th anniversary issue – categories like pharma, education, automobiles, public sector, banking and finance, tourism and FMCG are all gaining attention, packed in a single issue, which is higher than the average weekly client base of most news channels, said the media company in a statement on Tuesday.
For its 46th anniversary issue, India Today featured the trailblazers of India Tomorrow – those 40 years of age and below – entrepreneurs, politicians, entertainers, activists, scientists, inventors, writers, artists, lawyers and law enforcers and bureaucrats – who are India’s brightest stars on the horizon. Included are young digital moguls like Swiggy co-founder Sriharsha Majety, boAt co-founder Aman Gupta, entertainers like actor Alia Bhat and filmmaker Karthick Naren, politicians like Tejashvi Yadav, Aditya Thackeray, Abhishek Mukherjee, Tejasvi Surya and Hardik Patel, activists like Disha Ravi and Aishe Ghosh, young writers like Manu Pillai and Nisha Susan, scientists like Ravi Prakash (winners BRICS Young Innovator Prize) and host of others who will be the torch bearers of India’s future.
Ever since the restrictions of second lockdown were lifted earlier this year, both newsstand sales and subscription sales have been on high growth trajectory giving the magazine a very healthy growth rate of over 14 per cent month over month, said the statement.
“India Today was the only publication in India to continue printing and distribution even when the whole country was under lockdown. In fact, we have emerged to be the only publication in the country to have never missed even a single issue in the last 46 years of its publishing history,” said ITG CEO (publishing) Manoj Sharma.
During the bounce back, India Today Group immediately shifted their focus to the travel industry. Ties with large travel stores chains like WH Smiths were strengthened, as a result, sales volumes from these stores have now surged to 10 per cent more than their pre-Covid levels. Air India too resumed offering India Today to their executive class flyers. To cater to the increasing demand of flyers for India Today, Air India had to increase their off take to three times their pre-Covid supplies.
In addition to the print circulation, The publication has aggressively pushed its digital subscriptions all through the lockdown. Its pay-per-view and micropayment models for premium content implemented on the website as well, resulted in the thriving of its digital first paid subscribers. This further expanded the reach of India Today magazine in all print and digital formats reaching every nook and corner of the nation.
“Pandemic came as a huge learning and turned into an advantage as it not only brought about non-conventional outlets into play but also pushed major part of our distribution to modern retail beyond newsstands and road side hawkers. While earlier people had to make an effort to reach out to newsstands to buy a copy of India Today, now the same can be picked up along with their regular purchase of grocery products or daily essentials. This convenience will certainly push up the sales further, going forward,” Sharma further said.
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.
