News Broadcasting
Raghav Bahl to continue as non exec director at Network18 group
MUMBAI: After Reliance Industries acquired Network18, a slew of resignations followed. And amongst those was also the network’s founder and promoter Raghav Bahl. While there were questions on what was next, the much awaited announcement is finally out. Though Bahl ends his term as promoter from today, 7 July, he will continue to be the non executive director on TV18’s board. He has also resigned as managing director of Network18, though he will continue as its non-executive director.
This apart, the old promoters including Bahl, Ritu Kapur, Vandana Malik and Subhash Bahl, along with their affiliates have been replaced by Independent Media Trust (IMT), Network18 Media and Investments, Reliance Industries, RB Mediasoft, RB Media Holdings, RRB Mediasoft, Colorful Media, Adventure Marketing, Watermark Infratech and RB Holdings. The company announced this after a board meeting held this morning. And all of them have resigned from the board as well, along with the co-founder and executive director of TV 18 Sanjay Ray Chaudhuri.
In another announcement that followed, Reliance Industries revealed that Independent Media Trust (IMT) of which RIL is the sole beneficiary, has completed the acquisition of Network18 Media and Investments (NW18) including its subsidiary TV18 Broadcast (TV18). With the completion of this transaction, IMT and RIL have become promoters of NW18 and TV18. The open offers to the public shareholders for acquisition of equity shares of NW18, TV18 and Infomedia Press as announced on 29 May by JMT are in process and the draft letter of offer has been filed with SEBI for its comments.
The company also stated in a notice to the Bombay stock exchange that the Network18 board has been reconsituted with the appointment of veteran journalist Rohit Bansal and founder and group chairman of Webduniya Vinay Chhajlani as non-executive directors, and HDFC chairman Deepak S Parekh and Adil Zainulbhai as independent directors, following the resignation of the promoter directors.
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.
