News Broadcasting
Digital India, AI Innovations and vaccine diplomacy – India emerges as a torchbearer of good governance
Mumbai: News18 India, India’s Hindi news channel, has hosted its summit at the Taj Palace in Delhi. The latest edition of the initiative, News18 India Chaupal, saw a conclave of the nation’s most distinguished luminaries, thought leaders and youth icons who deliberated and shared insights about India’s role as “Vishwaguru”.
Bringing together the biggest names from a myriad of industries and affiliations on one forum, News18 India Chaupal hosted the leaders of the country as they reflected and discussed a host of integral issues on the backdrop of global geopolitical developments. As India emerges as a leader on the world stage and establishes the tenets of good governance for the world to emulate, News18 India Chaupal provided a stage for these eminent personalities to share their vision for the future of the nation.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “The Indian Railways has grown in leaps and bounds and currently provides employment opportunities directly and indirectly to 3.89 lakh people. We will be expanding this capacity further by one lakh people in the coming years. Today, we are setting new milestones in inclusive development and social upliftment. India has the highest concentration of AI innovators in the world. With our Digital India push, the nation will emerge as the pioneer of the next generation of AI technology tomorrow. Looking towards future horizons, our focus will be on expanding the last mile of telecom connectivity and digital inclusive growth. However, it is imperative that we safeguard the rights and safety of our citizens with the Data Protection Bill as we stand on the precipice of a new era of revolutionary transformation. Currently, India contributes 230 billion dollars towards the world IT industry, with over 80,000 start-ups, which employ 53 lakh personnel. Furthermore, under the visionary leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, we have filed over 100 patents with 6G technology as we establish India as a Digital Hub. Our commitment is to foster 360 Digital Villages that will become focal points for holistic growth and inclusive good governance.”
The next session was highlighted by the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Mansukh Mandaviya who said, “For us healthcare is not commerce, for us healthcare is a service. India has emerged from the disruptions and uncertainties of the pandemic stronger and more resilient than ever before. We have empowered our Make in India vaccine and distributed over 100 crore dosages across the country. India has emerged as a pioneer of the sustainable development model. Even as new variants continue to emerge, we remain vigilant and proactive in nationwide screening and testing. Our indigenous vaccines are effective on all Covid variants and provide protection to every person who has been properly and timely inoculated. Through our Indian vaccine, we have not only safeguarded our citizens, but also expanded our vaccine diplomacy across the globe. Today, India has provided vaccine doses to over 150 countries and continues to play a pivotal role in global geopolitics. Furthermore, India has also emerged as the World’s Pharmacy and our Indian made essential drugs are being distributed in both developed and developing nations alike.”
News Broadcasting
Network18 Q4 revenue grows 9.7 per cent, EBITDA at Rs 30 crore
PAT improves to Rs 306.6 crore, margins steady amid cost pressures.
MUMBAI: Not all news is breaking, some of it is quietly improving. Network18 Media & Investments Limited appears to be doing just that, tightening losses and stabilising margins even as costs continue to weigh on the business. For FY26, the company reported revenue from operations of Rs 1,955.1 crore, up from Rs 1,896.2 crore in FY25, signalling modest top-line growth in a challenging media environment. Total income stood at Rs 1,978.2 crore, compared to Rs 1,913 crore a year earlier.
Profit after tax came in at Rs 306.6 crore for the year, a sharp turnaround from Rs 3,225.4 crore in FY25, largely reflecting the absence of large exceptional items that had inflated the previous year’s numbers. On a more comparable basis, the company’s operating performance showed signs of gradual stabilisation.
However, the quarterly picture remained under pressure. For the March quarter, Network18 reported a loss of Rs 53.1 crore, narrower than the Rs 98.1 crore loss in the same period last year, but still indicative of ongoing cost challenges.
Expenses continued to track high. Total expenses for FY26 stood at Rs 2,235.7 crore, up from Rs 2,197.8 crore in FY25. Key cost heads included operational expenses of Rs 765.9 crore, employee benefits of Rs 475.9 crore, and marketing, distribution and promotional spends of Rs 427.1 crore, underlining the continued investment required to sustain reach and engagement.
At an operating level, margins remained under strain. Operating margin stood at 2.33 per cent for FY26, marginally higher than 1.77 per cent in FY25, while net profit margin remained negative at -13.02 per cent, though improved from -14.89 per cent.
On the balance sheet, total assets rose to Rs 8,957.6 crore as of 31 March 2026, from Rs 8,317.5 crore a year earlier. Equity strengthened to Rs 4,958.7 crore, while borrowings increased to Rs 3,112.8 crore, reflecting a higher reliance on debt to support operations.
Cash flows told a mixed story. While financing activities generated Rs 83.9 crore, operating cash flow remained negative at Rs -24 crore, highlighting ongoing pressure on core cash generation. Cash and cash equivalents, however, improved to Rs 33.9 crore from Rs 1.8 crore.
The numbers point to a company in transition growing revenues, trimming losses, but still grappling with structural cost pressures. In a sector where scale often comes at a price, Network18 seems to be inching towards balance, one quarter at a time.
