News Broadcasting
Uday Shankar has quit Aaj Tak, all set to join Star News
NEW DELHI: The waiting is over! TV Today Television Network news director Uday Shankar is all set to join Star News as the content head as soon as his present employers relieve him officially.
According to information available with indiantelevision.com, Shankar has put in his papers at TV Today, which manages the countrys subse tez channel Aaj Tak and its English sibling Headlines Today.
But there is a small hitch: the resignation has not been accepted as company promoter Aroon Purie still wants to hold back Shankar, who is understood to have made up his mind that its time to move on and look for newer challenges to keep the adrenaline pumping.
A formal announcement cannot be made as both Purie and company CEO G Krishnan are presently out of the country.
If Shankar is relieved by TV Today before the month is out —- Purie and Krishnan are slated to return to India over the weekend — then, in all probability, he would join Star News some time next month. In any case, Star News would like Shankar to join before the countdown to the general elections start, when a news channel can really show its mettle.
Media Content & Communication Services India Pvt. Ltd. (MCCS), which manages the affairs of Star News, pleaded ignorance on the matter and a response from TV Today could not be elicited.
As the content head of Star News, Shankar would be based in Mumbai, though there are talks of refurbishing the Delhi bureau too, by inducting some more senior people.
Though Aaj Tak retains its numero uno position, new kids on the block notwithstanding, Star News and NDTVs Hindi channel are slugging it out for the number two position (both claim to have a hold on the second position).
Just getting Shankar may not ensure that Aaj Tak can be toppled from the top slot as the success story of the channel, which has garnered over 50 per cent of the market share, would be a difficult ballgame to replicate even by Shankar. A journalist by profession, Shankar has worked in several media houses, including the now-defunct Business India TV channel BiTV.
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.
