News Broadcasting
CNBC-TV18 and HSBC India celebrates achievements of SMEs with SME Champion Awards
Mumbai: CNBC-TV18, India’s leading business and financial news channel, in collaboration with HSBC India, is set to host the grand finale of HSBC presents CNBC-TV18 SME Champion Awards. This landmark event caps off a transformative six-month initiative dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the remarkable achievements of India’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). These awards stand as a testament to the sector’s pivotal role in driving the nation’s economic engine and celebrate the indomitable spirit of India’s entrepreneurial landscape. The SME Champion Awards ceremony will unfold on 26 July 2024 in New Delhi, from 5:30 PM, recognizing the enduring determination, pioneering spirit, and resilience of Indian SMEs across 15+ categories including Sustainability Practices, Digital Transformation, Export Promotion, Manufacturing, and Entrepreneurship, among others.
The ceremony will be graced by the presence of Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport & Highways, GoI, as the guest of honour, alongside other distinguished guests including Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, DPIIT; T. Koshy, CEO & MD, ONDC; Hitendra Dave, CEO, HSBC India and Ajay Sharma, MD & Head-Commercial Banking, HSBC India.
The SME Champion Awards boasts a grand jury of eminent industry leaders, each a titan in their field, who have meticulously evaluated every entry leveraging their collective expertise. The esteemed jury comprises distinguished industry leaders, led by Rajnish Kumar, Former Chairperson, SBI and Jury members Atul Lall, VC & MD, Dixon Technologies India Ltd; Preeti Bajaj, CEO & MD, Luminous Power Technologies; Shradha Suri, CMD, Subros Ltd, & President, ACMA; Dinesh Kanabar, CEO, Dhruva Advisors; Girish Luthra, President, FICCI Confederation of MSMEs (FICCI-CMSME) & Chairman, Gujarat Enviro Protection & Infrastructure Ltd; Ashok Saigal, Co-Chairman, CII National MSME Council & MD, Frontier Technologies Pvt. Ltd.; Raghav Chandra, Ex-Secretary, GOI & Author and Founder, Cunsult; Chandrakant Salunkhe, Founder & President, SME Chamber of India; and Anju Srivastava-Founder, Wingreens World. The winner selection was a rigorous three-step screening process, culminating in the final selection by the esteemed panel of grand jury members. EY served as the ‘Process Advisors’ for this initiative.
The evening will open with a gripping performance by legendary singer Usha Uthup, followed by a welcome address by Shereen Bhan, Managing Editor, CNBC-TV18. Key addresses will be delivered by Hitendra Dave, CEO of HSBC India, and Ajay Sharma, MD and Head of Commercial Banking at HSBC India.
For the last six months, CNBC-TV18 and HSBC India have nurtured the SME community through a series of masterclasses and workshops, culminating in this grand awards ceremony. These initiatives empowered SMEs with critical knowledge and growth strategies, supporting India’s vision to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2027. The masterclass covered topics like ‘Navigating SME Export-Import in Global Landscape” and “Empowering SMEs for Sustainable Growth in Global Supply Chains’, addressing the unique challenges faced by SMEs. Furthermore, these classes were complemented by interactive webinars that served as a nexus for industry experts, policymakers, and entrepreneurs, fostering dialogue on innovative measures to propel SME success and maximize sector-wide participation.
CNBC-TV18 managing editor Shereen Bhan said, “The SME Champion Awards are a testament to the remarkable contributions of Indian SMEs, recognizing their pivotal role in driving economic growth and innovation across the nation. These enterprises are the backbone of our economy, driving innovation, creating employment opportunities, and fostering economic resilience. By celebrating and recognizing their achievements, we honor their hard work and inspire future generations of entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams and drive our nation’s growth. Now is the moment to highlight these pioneers and recognize their pivotal contribution to India’s economic development.”
HSBC India CEO Hitendra Dave stated, “At HSBC, we believe SMEs and start-ups are the true growth engine of our country. Supporting them isn’t just about meeting their financing needs, it’s also about fostering innovation, creating jobs and helping them meet their global aspirations. We recognize the pivotal role that India’s SME champions play in India’s growth story and are happy to celebrate their success.”
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Kolkata Town Hall on Hooghly River
‘Bhalobasa Bengal Inspiring Bharat’ event on April 20 brings cultural icons, trailblazing women and leaders aboard a cruise to celebrate Bengal’s enduring influence.
MUMBAI: Bengal is about to make fresh waves on the Hooghly and this time the current is pure conversation. CNN-News18 is taking its iconic Town Hall format to the waters of the iconic Hooghly River on 20 April 2026 with a special edition titled ‘Bhalobasa Bengal – Inspiring Bharat’. The floating event will celebrate the state’s rich cultural legacy and how its ideas, creativity and spirit continue to shape the rest of the country.
The unique riverside setting draws on Bengal’s history as a cradle of reform, art and intellectual thought. The speaker line-up mirrors that diversity: cultural heavyweights Mithun Chakraborty and Sreenanda Shankar will share the stage with trailblazing “Devis” such as Tanya Sanyal (India’s first woman firefighter in aviation), Ipsita Chakraborty (Kolkata’s first woman bartender) and Reshma Nilofer Visalakshi (Nari Shakti awardee and marine pilot). Music will flow through the celebrated pianist-vocalist duo Sourendro and Soumyojit, while public life and governance will be represented by Smriti Irani, Leander Paes, Saira Shah Halim, Keya Ghosh, Rekha Patra, Roopa Ganguly and Babul Supriyo.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director, Rahul Shivshankar, said the event honours voices that carry Bengal’s legacy forward. Smriti Mehra, CEO – English & Business News, Network18, added that Bengal’s stories resonate far beyond its borders, especially as the state heads into polls.
From the first woman to battle flames in the skies to legendary actors who shaped Indian cinema, the gathering promises a rich mix of inspiration, courage and candid dialogue. In a city where culture has always flowed as freely as the river itself, CNN-News18 is turning the Hooghly into a floating forum for ideas that matter.
Tune in on 20 April on CNN-News18, CTV and YouTube to catch Bengal’s heartbeat in full flow.
