News Broadcasting
Top brands spotlight India’s geoeconomic momentum at India Economic Conclave ’25
NEW DELHI: India’s corporate and policy elite gathered in New Delhi this week as Times Network staged the 11th India Economic Conclave, positioning geoeconomics as the defining force shaping the country’s growth ambitions in 2025.
The conclave, themed Navigating geoeconomics, served as a high-powered forum to examine India’s economic resilience, strategic autonomy and global standing amid a rapidly fragmenting world order. Discussions ranged across trade and capital flows, infrastructure and manufacturing, digital services, artificial intelligence, climate transition, mobility and defence preparedness.
Maruti Suzuki used the platform to articulate its deliberate stance on electric mobility. Senior executive officer, marketing and sales Partho Banerjee said the carmaker was focused on solving core ownership challenges rather than chasing early adopters in a segment that still accounts for just 4 per cent of monthly passenger vehicle sales. Despite the presence of nearly 18 electric models, Maruti is preparing the ground before rolling out its e-Vitara electric SUV in India.
To address range anxiety, the company has installed 2,000 dedicated EV charging points across more than 1,100 cities and partnered with 13 charge-point operators. It plans to scale this ecosystem to 1 lakh chargers nationwide by 2030 through dealer and operator networks.
Insurance reforms featured prominently. Axis Max Life Insurance managing director and CEO Sumit Madan, described GST 2.0 and the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025 as structural resets for the sector. He said allowing 100 per cent foreign direct investment would deepen competition, while the removal of GST on life insurance had already revived demand.
Payments and financial sovereignty formed another key theme. Pay10 Global and Eastern Fortune Investments chairman Prabhpreet Singh Gill said RBI’s 2025 cross-border licensing framework would enable Indian firms, particularly MSMEs, to expand internationally as countries tighten control over domestic payment systems. He argued that interoperable digital payments could reduce dependence on global networks and strengthen bilateral trade corridors.
Energy transition completed the picture. Luminous Power Technologies CMD Preeti Bajaj, positioned solar as India’s most scalable and affordable power source, calling for diversified battery technologies aligned with local conditions rather than a single global template.
IEC 2025 closed with a clear message: as global economic power splinters, India Inc is recalibrating strategy: less ideological, more transactional, and firmly anchored in national advantage.
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.
