News Broadcasting
CNBC-TV18 launches ‘Expectations 2004’
MUMBAI: CNBC-TV18 announced the launch of Expectations 2004 yesterday which is a comprehensive on-air, on-ground initiative that will analyse the government’s economic policies in the short term, gauge the mood of the nation and measure the gap between industry aspirations and economic reality.
Expectations 2004 will give viewers an accurate picture of the economy and will analyse the implications of impending policy decisions for the common man and for industry leaders, thus helping them take better informed business and economic decisions.
The highlights of this comprehensive initiative are:
The Vote on Account Speech by the Finance Minister
One of the highlights of Expectations 2004 will be the Vote on Account speech by the Finance Minister, with exhaustive insights and analysis. The Live coverage of the Vote on Account on 3 February included the live telecast of the FM’s speech, interview with the FM, interviews with Finance ministry officials, in-studio discussions with industry leaders and economic experts (Naina Lal Kidwai, Uday Kotak, Ashok Wadhwa, Ravi Mohan, Mahesh Vyas and more) and regular updates and bulletins throughout the day.
Expectations Roundtables
Three on-ground exclusive roundtables will bring together industry heads, policymakers and experts to understand how the economic momentum can be sustained, and what might be the economic implications of the elections.
Industry Verticals
Eight on-ground verticals in five different cities will highlight key industry expectations and chart direction for sustained growth in the industries in the coming year. Also to be telecast on the channel at a later date.
Voice of the Common Man
An interactive, call-in on-air show where CNBC’s anchors and analysts will answer pressing consumer questions on the economy and gauge the demands and aspirations of the common man.
Mood of the Nation
Capsules that will highlight sound bytes from industry leaders and the lay consumer, giving an indication of the mood of the nation.
Speaking about the major initiative CNBC-TV18 vice president sales and marketing Saikumar said, “Expectations 2004 will give the viewer a realistic, accurate and insightful picture of the economic state of the nation, given that elections are impending and the gains of the previous year need to be consolidated and built upon this year. This, we believe, is a “can’t miss” initiative for the business consumer: from the retail investor in Cochin to the agricultural entrepreneur in Nainital, from the management student in Ahmedabad to the professionals and CEO’s in Mumbai, from the housewife in Kanpur to the foodgrains retailer in Kolkata, this is an initiative significant for all of these and more.
“Expectations 2004 will also be a platform for reaching the voice of industry to policymakers and help bridge the gap between industry demands and economic policy dictates.” Microsoft, Life Insurance Corporation and HDFC Bank will be partnering with CNBC-TV18 in this initiative.
News Broadcasting
WITT Summit 2026 concludes in New Delhi
Babar Azam’s comical diving attempt goes viral as league introduces anti-dew measures.
MUMBAI: The WITT Summit just wrapped up with enough big ideas to fill a policy playbook because when India’s leaders, thinkers and icons gather under one roof, even the conversations hit sixes. The eighth edition of TV9 Network’s flagship What India Thinks Today (WITT) Summit 2026 concluded on Saturday after two days of dynamic discussions at its New Delhi venue. India’s largest multi-domain public policy and culture summit brought together political leaders, policymakers, sports icons, artists and technology innovators to examine the forces shaping contemporary India and its global standing.
Prime minister Narendra Modi delivered the keynote address on the theme “India and the World” for the third consecutive year. In a wide-ranging speech, he addressed the ongoing conflict in West Asia, calling for restraint and compassion while highlighting India’s continued development trajectory despite global turmoil.
The summit featured candid conversations with state leaders. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy articulated a people-first governance model and contrasted it with other development approaches. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav declared that Left-wing extremism had been effectively eliminated in his state and highlighted preparations for the upcoming Kumbh Mela. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann defended his government’s record, citing the closure of 19 toll plazas and creation of the Sadak Suraksha Force. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar expressed confidence in Congress prospects in Assam and addressed recent allegations against him.
On geopolitics and national security, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia outlined India’s ambition to become a builder of trusted digital infrastructure for the world, citing the rapid 5G rollout and village-level 4G connectivity.
Cricket received significant attention. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly praised player freedom and trust as hallmarks of great leadership and named MS Dhoni as the greatest captain due to his World Cup successes. India women’s team bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi credited the BCCI and Women’s Premier League for building a pipeline of world-class talent behind the team’s recent ODI World Cup triumph.
The summit also hosted the inaugural AI² Awards 2026, celebrating the convergence of human creativity and machine intelligence in storytelling and content creation. Poet and kathavachak Kumar Vishwas delivered a nuanced take on India’s concept of Dharma and criticised the recent arrest of an 80-year-old Shankaracharya. Veteran lyricist Sameer Anjaan and storyteller Neelesh Misra reflected on changing music trends and artistic responsibility in the wake of a recent controversy involving Nora Fatehi.
In a country where conversations often run as deep as the Ganges, the WITT Summit proved once again that when leaders, thinkers and storytellers come together, the real winner is public discourse lively, layered and refreshingly unafraid to tackle the big questions shaping India’s tomorrow.
