News Broadcasting
Miditech loses Avinash IPS to UTV
Avinash IPS will have new parents from this week.
Star Plus’ supercop, just six weeks old, has been snatched from Miditech and handed over to UTV for rearing. Industry sources say Star was none too happy with the way the plainclothes policeman, who hasn’t yet set the ratings charts on fire, was being brought up by Miditech. UTV, on the other hand, has ambitious plans for the adopted baby.
UTV associate creative director Neeraj Naik feels viewers have thus far not been able to interpret Avinash as a supercop, which he was meant to be. The first task of the UTV team then has been to define Avinash’s role as a supercop, making him faster on his feet, quicker on the uptake, and consequently more pro-active. “He is being moulded such that he will be able to outwit the antagonist ( who, incidentally, will also be smarter and cannier) on a psychological as well as a physical level,” says Naik.
Naik says the re-worked Avinash is indigenously built, with plenty of involvement from the channel as well. The difficulties of working on a project earlier handled by another production house have been diminished as Avinash IPS is shot more on a location specific rather than a set specific basis. While most of the cast remain the same (“We will have to work around Sachin’s ( Sachin Khurana, who plays Avinash) potential” maintains Naik) a new character in the form of Inspector Deshmukh has been added to the script, which is being handled by Abhigyan. Deshmukh, says Naik, has been styled as a colleague in the police department who lives life by the book, and is a mite envious of Avinash too. The first episode to be handled by UTV is directed by Zaighum Ali. Previously, too, Avinash has had different directors for different episodes.
Avinash IPS had made its debut in the 11 pm slot on 31 May, replacing the year old Kahaani Jurm Ki, also a Miditech production. Avinash was conceived as a fearless IPS officer who takes on the world of crime with his sharp mind and matching bravery. The sixth episode, telecast last Friday, was the last directed by Miditech. UTV, that has taken over, also has the Damocles sword of ratings hanging over it if it hopes to rear Avinash to manhood.
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.
