News Broadcasting
Narendra Modi to felicitate Clean Champions at India Today Awards
MUMBAI: It’s been one year since Prime Minister Narendra Modi nominated India Today Group chairman and editor in chief Aroon Purie to be a Clean India advocate. The India Today Group will be commemorating the honour with the India Today Safaigiri Singathon and Awards 2015.
The event will be held on 2 October, the first anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the keynote speaker and give away awards to the Clean India Champions.
Purie said, “I was delighted when the PM nominated me and The India Today group as an ambassador of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. A clean India is such a simple idea but a revolutionary one. It will only succeed if all of us work to make it a movement. So many of our ills will be solved if we fix our sanitation. By one estimate it could increase our average per capita income by seven per cent. As a media group, we can play a role to raise awareness of this campaign and get people involved. Our first step is Safaigiri Singathon & Awards. Our aim is to work on an attitude change and bring viewers face to face with uncomfortable facts in an entertaining manner. I am glad that we are not just reporting but making a difference.”
India Today Safaigiri Singathon & Awards is a key initiative of the group’s efforts in realising the vision of Swachh Bharat and in recognising Clean Champions across the country. The Clean Champions are selected in 13 categories through a process of online entries, field work, and selection by a jury of eminent citizens.
The event will be highlighted by the Safai Singathon with singers and musicians performing through the day. The singers and musicians attending the daylong event include, Asha Bhosle, Kailash Kher, Daler Mehndi, Sonu Nigam, Hans Raj Hans, Papon and Udit Narayan.
The Safai Singathon will be telecast on all four channels of the network namely India Today Television, Aaj Tak, Tez and Business Today for over eight hours non-stop Live on 2 October.
News Broadcasting
News18 India launches Command Centre war explainer with Arya
New show shifts from debates to decoding global conflicts and impacts
MUMBAI: News18 India has rolled out a new war-focused programme, Command Centre, featuring Gaurav Arya, as it looks to offer viewers a sharper, more grounded take on global conflicts amid rising tensions in West Asia.
Positioned as an “insider war room”, the show moves away from conventional panel debates and instead focuses on explaining military developments, decoding strategy and connecting global events to their everyday impact, from fuel prices to economic shifts.
The format leans heavily on visuals and data. The studio has been designed like a command hub, complete with large LED war maps, real-time graphics and an alert system to track developments as they unfold.
At the centre of it all is Arya, who brings his military background to simplify complex war strategies for viewers. His signature line, “Seedhi baat samjhiye”, anchors the show’s promise of clarity over noise.
News18 India managing editor Jyoti Kamal said, “Command Centre, featuring Major Gaurav Arya is designed to deliver accurate insights and a clear perspective on how evolving conflicts impact everyday life, from household budgets to national security. With expert voices analysing every development in real time, the show goes beyond headlines to decode what’s happening now, what it means, and what could come next.”
Echoing the intent, Gaurav Arya added, “In times of war, confusion is the biggest threat. With News18 India’s Command Centre, we are bringing viewers inside the war room, decoding strategies, tracking every escalation, and explaining, in the simplest terms, what it means for India and for every household. Seedhi baat samjhiye, this is where you understand not just what is happening, but what happens next.”
The weekday show will air in the afternoon slot and will also feature Gaurav Shukla, adding to its editorial depth.
With its mix of analysis, visuals and a clear focus on impact, the show reflects a broader shift in news consumption. Viewers are no longer just watching events unfold, they are looking to understand what those events mean for them.
