News Broadcasting
Times Now, Aaj Tak retain positions even as ratings decline
MUMBAI: The channels in the English News space witnessed a decrease in ratings this week. Times Now with a further decrease in its ratings however continued to dominate the genre.
According to the week 52 ratings data of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India, the players in the English Business News space witnessed mixed ratings.
Aaj Tak remained as the number one channel in the Hindi News space, both in rural and urban markets. Players in the Hindi News space witnessed mixed ratings this week.
Channels in the Hindi Business News genre saw mixed ratings this week.
English News
Times Now, with a further decrease in its ratings, continued to dominate the genre with 546 Impressions (000s) as compared to 576 Impressions (000s) in week 51. NDTV 24×7 sustained its second slot with 223 Impressions (000s) while India Today Television took the third position with 171 Impressions. CNN News18 with 171 Impressions (000s) and BBC World News with 61 Impressions (000s) took the fourth and fifth position, respectively.
English Business News
CNBC TV18 continued to lead with a decrease in ratings from 237 Impressions (000s) in week 51 to 227 Impressions (000s) this week. ET Now was at the second spot with 135 Impressions (000s). NDTV Profit and NDTV Prime continued to be at the third position with 44 Impressions (000s). BTVi was on the fourth spot with 20 Impressions (000s). CNBC TV 18 Prime HD sustained at the fifth place with 1 Impressions (000s).
Hindi News
Aaj Tak observed a decline in the ratings but stood at the first spot with 165306 Impressions (000s) as compared to 168964 Impressions (000s) in last week followed by India TV at the second position with 142318 Impressions (000s). ABP News took the third position with 131434 Impressions (000s) followed by Zee News at the fourth position with 108600 Impressions (000s). India News took the fifth position with 81387 Impressions (000s).
Hindi News Rural
Aaj Tak with a decrease in the ratings dominated the rural market with 75849 Impressions (000s). India TV was at the second slot with 67718 Impressions (000s) followed by ABP News at the third place with 60435 Impressions (000s). Zee News took the fourth place with 44674 Impressions (000s) followed by India News with 43765 Impressions (000s) at the fifth position.
Hindi News Urban
Aaj Tak stood at the number one position with 89457 Impressions (000s) followed by India TV at the second position with 89457 Impressions (000s). ABP News took the third position with 70999 Impressions (000s) followed by Zee News at the fourth position with 63926 Impressions (000s). India News took the fifth position with 42479 Impressions (000s).
Hindi Business News
CNBC Awaaz witnessed a decrease in ratings though it continued at the number one position with 1146 Impressions (000s) as compared to 1223 Impressions (000s) in week 51. The second spot was taken by Zee Business with 1089 Impressions (000s).
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.
