News Broadcasting
GoM set to discuss FDI in DTH Thursday
NEW DELHI: A group of ministers (GoM) is slated to discuss tomorrow foreign direct investment (FDI) in various sectors, including direct to-home television broadcasting venture, and examine whether the existing FDI cap can be reviewed.
According to government sources, the GoM that was supposed to have met in the recent past, but could not because of the absence from town of some key ministers, would have a look at the FDI in various sectors, including whether it makes sense to raise the 20 per cent FDI cap in DTH sector to 49 per cent.
The sources also indicated that though it does not fall technically within the ambit of the GoM, but the group, comprising some of the powerful ministers in the Indian government, may also discuss in the passing the issue of FDI in news channels desirous of uplinking from India — an issue that will be taken up in entirety by the full Cabinet.
In a related development, the sources also said that the full Cabinet is unlikely to meet before the presentation of the Budget on 28 February to discuss any issues. The Cabinet would meet on Friday morning, but it is highly unlikely that it would take up the uplinking issue for discussion that day.
The GoM comprises ministers of home affairs (who also happen to the deputy Prime Minister), finance, commerce and industry, IT & telecom, amongst others.
The GoMs agenda is to take up the NK Singh panel report that has made various suggestions, including increasing FDI cap in sectors like insurance, civil aviation and DTH. The panel had been constituted last year, at the behest of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, to look at ways to increase the FDI inflow into the country.
But the Union Cabinet has been divided over the Singh panel report. For example, former information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj was staunchly opposed to any review of the existing DTH policy guideline and, during an interaction with journalists late last year, had categorically said her ministry had “rejected” the Singh panel suggestion on DTH.
But with a new I&B minister Ravi Shankar Prasad still trying to find his feet in the ministry and understand the issues related to his ministry, it is yet to be seen the stand his ministry takes on the FDI cap in DTH that is cited as one of the reasons by interested players in delaying business plans.
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.
