News Broadcasting
16 transferred from DD News to AIR
NEW DELHI: Even as the debate on the fate of DD News continues in political and government circles, 16 senior people associated with the channel have been transferred to sister concern All India Radio.
The transfer orders, which came two days ago, were with immediate effect, according to officials in Doordarshan. There is also no proposal to replace the people shunted out of the news channel re-launched October last by the previous government. Most of those given the sideways swipe are at assistant news editor and news editor level.
Interestingly, out of the 16 people (all belonging to the Indian Information Service) transferred, 11 belonged to DD’s Delhi centre, while the others are located in various parts of the country. It is alleged by the IIS lobby that since outsiders like consulting editor Deepak Chaurasia could not get along well with the government officials, the transfers have been done.
While confirming the transfer of personnel to AIR, a DD official, however, tried to play it down terming the moves as “routine”. “DD News did not have so many posts and the people were given to us by AIR when the news channel was started. In a routine procedure, they have been transferred back to their original posting,” the official said.
It is this reverting of personnel to original postings that has created a flutter within Prasar Bharati, which runs DD and AIR, as speculation is rife that these transfers are but a precursor to the closure of the news channel whose ratings have fallen. Though, DD News mandarins will argue that the rating agencies do not do their job fairly because DD’s terrestrial reach is ignored.
More interestingly, had the IIS officials concerned been sent out of town from their present postings, a clearance from the information and broadcasting ministry would have been needed. All the movements have been laterally made to AIR in the same city and for which Prasar Bharati needs no clearance from the ministry.
The IIS lobby has been upset from the time professionals like Chaurasia and Saleha Wasim (formerly with NDTV when it was managing Star News) had been hired for DD News from other channels. Some others followed Chaurasia from Aaj Tak as well.
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.
