News Broadcasting
Times NOW announces special programming line-up for upcoming Assembly Elections under Mandate 2018
MUMBAI: Times NOW, India’s leading English News channel announces an unmatched programming line-up for the upcoming Assembly Elections under Mandate 2018. With an exclusive association with CNX Media, a leading research consultancy headed by Psephologist Bhawesh Jha, Times NOW will use big data analytics and mathematical models to bring the viewer a holistic news watching experience.
With Mandate 2018, Times NOW, India's election news headquarters will once again be at the forefront of election news coverage tracking the state assembly elections of five states, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana. Through engaging properties, Times NOW promises to make the election coverage more exciting and captivating for its viewers.
1. Pre-Poll Surveys: Every Thursday, from 6p.m. to 8p.m., TIMES NOW will broadcast a set of Opinion Polls through its association with CNX Media, for an in-depth analysis of high-quality data on voting, public opinion, and political participation.
2. Inside: A weekend magazine show starting November 03, 2018 at 11:30a.m. that will bring the viewers close to the heat and hustle of the elections and the candidates in the fray will delve in detail about the issues in each of the five states. The show will follow top candidates as they canvass in this crucial election and attempts to bring to the viewers the issues that the voters are facing.
3. Exit Poll: With the final state polling on December 07, 2018, TIMES NOW will broadcast the exit poll 5.30 p.m. onwards. Using state of the art technology and on ground field research in association with CNX Media, the Polls will map 639 seats across 5 states and later, the data will be processed to call a projection for a state.
4. Result Day (LIVE): December 11, 2018, 6.00 am onwards, Times NOW will bring Result Day Live, a new age look at election result analysis, moving away from the traditional analysis like swing and vote patterns. Featuring the country's top Election Data Analyst & psephologist Jai Mrug, TIMES NOW will bring several unique properties that help viewers understand the sentiments of the voters and why the result has shaped the way it is.
As an established leader in the English News segment, Times NOW, is the viewers preferred channel during elections. Driven by the channel’s formidable team led by Rahul Shivshankar – Editor-in-Chief and Navika Kumar, Managing Editor, Times NOW, will bring a stellar panel of former journalists and political analysts including, Neerja Chowdhury – Senior Journalist, R Rajagopalan – Senior Journalist, Sanjeev Shrivastava – Political Analyst, Saba Naqvi – Senior Journalist, Shehzad Poonawala – Political Analyst, Rajeev Desai – Political Analyst, Ashutosh Mishra – Senior Journalist, Rashid Kidwai – Senior Journalist, R Jagannathan -Senior Journalist and Abdul Razzak -Political Analyst to analyse every move of the election for the viewers.
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.
