News Broadcasting
MIB orders central ministries, state governments to exit broadcast business
Mumbai: The ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) has issued an advisory which asks any ministry/department of the central and state/UT governments and entities related to them to exit the broadcasting business by 31 December 2023.
If the ministries of the central government, state/UT governments, and entities related to them are already broadcasting their content, it must be done through Prasar Bharati, through appropriate agreements between Prasar Bharati and the concerned central, state, and union governments. The advisory will affect the Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh state governments, which operate in the content distribution space.
The advisory will mean the withdrawal of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh state governments from the content distribution space. The Tamil Nadu government owns and operates a cable distribution company called Arasu Cable TV while the Andhra Pradesh government runs the AP Fibernet service, which has a triple-play offering of IPTV, internet, and telephony. The Tamil Nadu government also operates an educational channel ‘Kalvi Tholaikkatchi’.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) had made recommendations on “issues relating to the entry of certain entities into broadcasting and distribution activities” dated 12 November 2008, 28 December 2012, and 22 January 2015. Its recommendations dated 28 December 2012 have been accepted by the MIB and the ministry of law and justice.
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.
