News Headline
Drop in news viewership rating, Aaj Tak & Times Now retain respective leads
MUMBAI: Times Now continued to dominate the genre though the players in the space witnessed a fall in their viewership this week. Players in the English Business News space, which was led by CNBC TV18, observed mixed ratings in BARC week 14.
Although Aaj Tak was at the number one position, channels in both, Hindi News and Hindi News Rural space, saw a decline in ratings, according to Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India data. Players in the Hindi News Urban genre observed mixed ratings this week.
In the Hindi Business News space, the channels witnessed a substantial decline in ratings this week.
English News
Times Now with decrease in ratings dominated the genre with 562 Impressions (000s) followed by India Today 356 Impressions (000s). NDTV 24×7 grabbed the third place with 328 Impressions (000s). CNN News18 with 318 Impressions (000s) and BBC World News with 137 Impressions (000s) took the fourth and fifth position, respectively.
English Business News
CNBC TV 18, with hike in ratings, retained the number one position 630 Impressions (000s) as compared to 547 Impressions (000s). ET Now with 352 Impressions (000s) came at the second spot this week. NDTV Profit and NDTV Prime were at the third position with 76 Impressions (000s). CNBC TV18 Prime HD was on the fourth spot with 52 Impressions (000s) and BTVi took the fifth place with 29 Impressions (000s).
Hindi News
Aaj Tak, with decreased ratings, continued at its number one position with 125509 Impressions (000s) as compared to 129150 Impressions (000s) in week 13. ABP News was at the second position with 111995 Impressions (000s). At the third and fourth slots respectively, India TV and Zee News interchanged their past week positions with 94477 and 85727 Impressions (000s). News18 India took the fifth position with 70636 Impressions (000s).
Hindi News Rural
Aaj Tak, with a fall in its ratings, emerged as the number one channel in the rural market with 57455 Impressions (000s) as compared to 59143 Impressions (000s) last week. ABP News was at the second place with 52678 Impressions (000s) and India TV grabbed the third position with 38492 Impressions (000s). Zee News and India News respectively took the fourth and fifth place with 34507 and 33778 Impressions (000s).
Hindi News Urban
Aaj Tak, with decrease in its viewership, emerged as the leader in the urban market with 68054 Impressions (000s) as compared to 70007 Impressions (000s) last week. ABP News was at the second position with 59316 Impressions (000s). India TV took the third position with 55985 Impressions (000s) followed by Zee News at the fourth position with 51220 Impressions (000s). News 18 India took the fifth position with 41498 Impressions (000s).
Hindi Business News
CNBC Awaaz continued to dominate the genre as ratings fell from 2348 Impressions (000s) last week to 1719 Impressions (000s) this week. The second spot was taken by Zee Business with 1261 Impressions (000s).
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
