News Broadcasting
FIBP clears Star News FDI proposal
NEW DELHI: The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) today cleared the application by Media Content Communications Services (MCCS) India, the holding company for the Star News venture here, to infuse foreign equity amounting to 26 per cent from Star News Broadcasting Ltd.
MCCS has sought permission from the Indian government to uplink content for the Star News channel.
The clearance came after the information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry gave its go ahead for the same.
What this means is that now the impediments have been removed for a final permission from the I&B ministry for long-term uplink from India, senior I&B ministry officials said. However, the I&B ministry can still ask questions and seek clarifications from MCCS.
MCCS proposes to have a paid-up capital of Rs 625 million according to an application submitted to the government on 22 September.
The authorised share capital of the joint venture between the Aveek Sarkar family-controlled ABP Pvt Ltd and Star Group Pvt Ltd, the application had said, would be Rs 700 million, while the current paid-up capital is Rs 100,000.
MCCS is the company that would uplink and look after the affairs of Star News from India wherein ABP holds 74 per cent equity stake and Star has a 26 per cent shareholding. The former shareholders of MCCS, including ad man Suhel Seth and Balaji Telefilms chairman and actor Jeetendra, were bought out by ABP.
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.
