News Broadcasting
Limited punitive action taken against 31 TV channels in 11 years
NEW DELHI: As many as 31 TV channels were asked to stop transmission for specific period of time ranging from one day to 60 days including news channel for 30 days between 2005 and 2016.
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Ministry Rajyavardhan Rathore told the Parliament that 22 private television channels including one channel for three different programmes and another for two programmes were asked to suspend transmission for duration ranging from one day to 30 days for telecasting content in violation of the Programme Code during the last three years and the current year.
This included 14 in 2013, one in 2014, four in 2015, and three in 2016 (till November), Rathore said.
The three in the current year are — NDTV India and Care World India with one violation each, and News Time Assam for three violations. The orders relating to NDTV and Care World India have been challenged in the courts of law. Earlier, in 2014, Manoranjan TV was punished twice.
The channels punished in 2014 and 2015 are — Enterr 10, Zing, Mahua, SS TV, AXN, FTV, Movies OK, Comedy Central, Zoom TV, ABN Andhra Jyoti, UTV Bindass, WB, NTV, Big CBS Love, Jai Hind, Al Jazeera, and Satlon News.
Action is taken against TV channels whenever any violation of the Programme and Advertising Codes is noticed or brought to the notice of the Ministry. The Ministry generally issues warnings or advisories to comply with the Codes or asks the channels to run an apology scroll on their channel.
But, Rathore said the channels are occasionally taken off air temporarily for a limited period depending on the gravity of the violation.
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.
