MAM
Aaj Tak kick-starts on-ground events with ‘Agenda Aaj Tak’
MUMBAI: Taking a cue from other news channels, Aaj Tak has kick-started on-ground events with ‘Agenda Aaj Tak‘ which is to be held on 6 and 7 December in New Delhi.
The event will be held annually.
The Hindi news channel has roped in BRYS Group as the presenting sponsor while Century Plywood has come in as the associate sponsor for its first edition. BRYS Group is into real estate, hospitality, medicare and advertising.
India Today Group CEO Ashish Bagga told Indiantelevision.com that the cost of the event has been recovered. “Substantial margin is usually enjoyed by such thought leading events. Thus, sponsors are still pouring in.”
The event will be webcasted live on Aaj Tak‘s website. Aaj Tak and the network channels will be supporting it on air with special programmes like Live cut-ins, curtain raisers, daily half hour specials, quotes through the daily stories and post-event weekend shows.
The marketing campaign promise of the event is “Hindi Jagat ka Mahamanch”.
“We are doing aggressive marketing promotions across all mediums such as print, internet, outdoor, TV and radio as we conceive this to become a benchmark property both on air and off air,” Bagga added.
‘Agenda Aaj Tak‘ is a summit that will bring 40 renowned personalities from India and abroad to discuss, share their insight and perspective and will try to lay the foundation for India‘s Future.
The conclave will consist of discussions and Q&A sessions by prominent political leaders, cricketers, Bollywood celebrities, authors and bureaucrats on issues like politics, youth, social media, democracy, development, Bhasha, cross-border terrorism, regionalism, economic reforms, social issues, India-Pakistan relation and popular culture.
According to Bagga, the overarching theme is to set India‘s Agenda in India‘s own language – Hindi. “Thought leaders from all spheres will be building on this and so will the subsequent On Air programming. Therefore, to take the channel‘s influence beyond the screen and to create mass movements we have embarked on this direction as the most respected and trusted news channel.”
He said this show is expected to be amongst the most powerful shows on TV ever. “It is first of its kind in India‘s own language – Hindi. Therefore expectations on ratings are high but more importantly the influence will be the driver for such initiatives. The opinions and the stature of speakers will define a new high when it comes to thought leadership. Revenues are anyway very positive on platforms that are opinion leading and present extraordinary positive rub off.”
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
