News Broadcasting
News18 India to organise its flagship summit Chaupal on 20 March
Mumbai: News18 India, hindi news channel, is all set to host the next edition of its marquee initiative ‘News18 India Chaupal’. The highly anticipated event will bring together the who’s who of politics and thought leaders from multiple other fields for a discussion on India’s emergence as a global power. The event is scheduled to take place on 20 March in Delhi.
In the lead-up to the general elections of 2024, ‘News18 India Chaupal’ will host those who run the country to discuss and deliberate ideas & perspectives across a range of critical themes & topics that will impact the future of the world’s largest democracy. This edition of ‘News18 India Chaupal’ will focus on India’s growing stature on the global stage and its emergence as a “Vishwaguru”.
Political leaders including JP Nadda, Nitin Gadkari etc. will share their vision for India’s future. Senior union cabinet ministers including Ashwini Vaishnaw, Mansukh Mandaviya, Anurag Thakur, Dharmendra Pradhan will offer their views on the evolving policy framework and how that is serving as an enabler of growth.
The event will also see Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel and other political luminaries such as Shashi Tharoor, Sachin Pilot, Hardik Patel, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Raghav Chadha, Supriya Shrinate, Imran Pratapgarhi touch upon the current political climate in India, as well as the upcoming elections in several states.
Others who will also speak at the event include the star cricketer Virender Sehwag, Khushbu Sundar, Gaur Gopal Das, Manoj Tiwari, and Dinesh Lal Yadav aka Nirahua.
Network 18 Hindi news CEO Karan Abhishek Singh said, “We are truly proud of the role that News18 India and our flagship summit Chaupal has played in driving the country’s development agenda. Chaupal has come to be regarded as the biggest platform that brings together leaders and opinion-makers to not just discuss India’s future but also help articulate an actionable plan. We are confident that at this crucial juncture in India’s growth journey, this year’s Chaupal will be even more impactful.”
News18 India’s managing editor, Kishore Ajwani said, “I am very excited about our upcoming thought leadership summit – Chaupal. For us this is not just an event but an important part of the responsibility that we see us essaying as the country’s No. 1 Hindi news channel – given how Chaupal enables us to contribute positively to setting the development agenda for the country. I am very excited about the line-up that we have for Chaupal and am very confident that our viewers will find the discussions very compelling and insightful”
The event will be broadcast live on News18 India on 20 March from 11:00 am onwards. Updates will also be available on all of the channel’s social media assets. Viewers can partake in any discussions on the on-going sessions using the #News18IndiaChaupal.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 rolls out Battle for the States ahead of key polls
Multi-format election coverage tracks voter mood across five battleground states
NEW DELHI: CNN-News18 has launched a special election programming initiative titled Battle for the States, as India gears up for high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.
Built around the theme ‘Road to Power’, the multi-format coverage aims to follow the entire electoral journey, from campaigning and polling to results and government formation. The network is leaning into on-ground reportage and data-backed storytelling to decode voter sentiment across regions where local issues often shape the narrative.
The programming line-up includes ‘Vote Tracker’, a three-part series developed in collaboration with survey agency Vote Vibe. The show blends survey insights with expert commentary and field reporting, using augmented reality graphics to present complex electoral data such as vote share, seat projections and leadership preferences in a more accessible format. It will air every Monday evening until April 6.
Adding a cultural lens to political reporting is ‘So Saree!’, a ground-driven segment where women anchors travel across constituencies dressed in traditional handwoven sarees from each state. The format uses attire as a storytelling device, highlighting regional identity while capturing grassroots voices.
Meanwhile, ‘Unfiltered Kaapi’ and ‘Chai-Niti’ bring a more conversational tone, drawing inspiration from everyday political discussions in tea stalls and coffee corners. These segments aim to break down key issues through candid, fast-paced exchanges between anchors and reporters, tailored to regional sensibilities.
For viewers seeking deeper insights, the weekend docuseries ‘Reporters Project’ takes a longer view, with correspondents travelling across constituencies to map voter concerns and political shifts on the ground.
“Elections are about people, their aspirations, identities and the issues that matter to them, and every state tells a different story,” said CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar. He added that the initiative focuses on understanding “the sentiment on the ground and what’s driving voter choices”.
Echoing the emphasis on credibility, Network18 CEO – English and business news Smriti Mehra said the network aims to combine on-ground reporting with data-led insights to deliver clear and timely coverage as the elections unfold.
With a mix of data, culture and grassroots reporting, CNN-News18 is positioning Battle for the States as a comprehensive window into one of India’s most closely watched electoral cycles, where every vote carries a story waiting to be told.
