News Broadcasting
MCCS appoints Astro’s Barun Das as vice president
MUMBAI: Media Content and Communication Services Pvt. Ltd. (MCCS), which manages Star News and Star Ananda has roped in Astro All Asia Network international business development head Barun DAs as the vice-president in the corporate function.
In his present profile as VP at MCCS, Das will have responsibilities both for the MCCS topline as well as bottomline. He will be responsible for creating new revenue models for MCCS in order to increase reach and revenue in non-traditional areas.
Das had earlier moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to take up his assignment with Astro All Asia Network. His role involved business development with a focus on the Indian subcontinent. Prior to his stint with Astro All Asia Network, DAs was associate publisher – business division, at the India Today Group. He brings to MCCS his legacy of a vast experience that spreads across various media groups including the Ananda Bazaar Patrika Group and Zee Publishing, informs an official statement.
Says MCCS CEO Uday Shankar, “His appointment is in tandem with the exciting new options that the network is exploring in the days to come. In Barun we have a person equipped to exploit this potential and explore new ideas.”
Das adds, “My previous international exposure has added a new dimension to my professional experience. During my stint with Astro, Kuala Lumpur, I experienced how much the world is excited about India. With so much happening in the world of media, I just could not resist my temptation to be back in India. MCCS with its offerings has been at the forefront of consistent innovation. For me this is a welcome fit and a challenging assignment.”
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.
