News Broadcasting
Dr Manmohan Singh to be PM; markets on a roll
MUMBAI: Two days of uncertainty came to an end this evening after it became clear that the “father of the Indian reform process” Dr Manmohan Singh would be India’s next Prime Minister.
With the issuance of a letter from the President Dr APJ Kalam to Dr Singh inviting him to form the next government brought the curtain down on what has been a period of great drama as well.
The markets also reacted positively to the developments. That the outgoing BJP government has been stands totally defanged as it were with Congress Party leader Sonia Gandhi having withdrawn from the prime ministerial race is another positive development as well. Without any real divisive agenda to plonk their collective hats on, at least for the present, the country can hopefully look forward to issue based opposition from the BJP instead of the vicious campaigns that would have come into play if the “foreign origins issue” had been allowed to take centre stage.
The stock market rally that began yesterday continued today to take the Sensex up over 5,000-mark today, narrowing its Mondays losses.
After yesterday’s eight per cent upward move, the markets continued to gain even today. With 183 points up at one time, the market finally ended with a gain of 129.08 points, at 5,006.10.
As far as the broadcasting sector is concerned, news that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhaghan has agreed to join the Congress-led government at the Centre raises the possibility that party MP and CEO of Sun Network Dayanidhi Maran might have a position in the new cabinet that is expected to be announced over the next three days.
It was Maran, son of late Union minister Murasoli Maran and grand-nephew of DMK president M Karunanidhi, who made the announcement that the DMK was joining the government after Ms Gandhi met Karunanidhi as part of her efforts to get the backing of partners and allies for a new leader to head the Congress-led coalition.
The big question of course is whether Maran ( 37), an economics graduate and number 2 man in Sun after CMD Kalanidhi Maran, could now be in the running for the information & broadcasting ministry portfolio.
However, indiantelevision.com still believes that the frontrunner for I&B ministership remains former incumbent Jaipal Reddy (whose Broadcasting Bill is still gathering dust). What would go against Maran is that since he is heading a broadcast company, he would be seen as having too direct an interest in the matters pertaining to the I&B ministry.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
