News Broadcasting
HTA beats seven agencies to bag HPCL accounts
Hindustan Thompson Associates (HTA) India’s largest advertising agency, has won Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited’s (HPCL) advertising accounts of Retail, LPG and Lubricants’ Strategic Business Units (SBUs) in a competitive pitch.
The other advertising agencies which pitched for the account were Mudra Communications, Lowe Lintas, Leo Burnett, Saatchi & Saatchi, FCB-Ulka, MaCann-Erickson and Madison Communications, an official release says. HTA has also won the Godrej Appliances’ refrigerators business and the Frito-Lay India account recently. The HPCL account and the Godrej Appliances’ refrigerators account will be serviced and managed from HTA’s Mumbai office while the Frito-Lay’s account will be serviced out of HTA’s Delhi office. The estimated billings of these new accounts amount to Rs 450-500 million annually.
These new business wins closely follow HTA’s award run where the advertising agency was named “National Agency of the Year” by the Calcutta Advertising Club. At the same function, HTA won 17 awards for various brand campaigns such as Close Up, Pepsi, Ford IKON, Horlicks, Spice Bangalore, Parry’s Confectionery and VLCC. Additionally, at the AAA Awards function in Mumbai last month, HTA walked away with 7 awards including the Gold award for the best TV spot for Close-Up, the release states.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
