News Broadcasting
UP Tak Hosts ‘Viksit UP Baithak’ with Key Voices of UP
MUMBAI: When conversations move from drawing rooms to the ground, change tends to follow. UP Tak, the digital-first news platform of the India Today Group, is hosting the Viksit UP Baithak today in Jhansi, putting the spotlight firmly on the aspirations, anxieties and ambitions shaping Uttar Pradesh’s next growth chapter.
Designed as a forum for frank and future-facing dialogue, the baithak brings policymakers, administrators and grassroots voices to the same table to debate what a more prosperous and self-assured Uttar Pradesh should look like. From jobs and industry to health, education and sport, the discussions aim to move beyond slogans and into lived realities.
The line-up features a mix of senior officials and sector experts, including Awanish Kumar Awasthi, former IAS officer and Advisor to the chief minister; Sanjay Kumar Khatri, IAS, CEO of the Bundelkhand Industrial Development Authority; and state ministers Hargovind Kushwaha and Manoharlal Panth (Mannu Kori) from the Labour Service Scheme Department. Voices from academia, industry and civil society are also part of the conversation, with participants such as Mukesh Pandey, vice-chancellor, Abhinav Gaur, director, Shatam Jeeva, Rajeev Babbar, president, Laghu Udyog Bharati, and Mukesh Mishra, MD and chairman, Royal City Developer.
Adding a sporting lens to the development debate, coaches Ashok Dhyanchand and Subodh Khandekar, along with player Shivam Anand, are contributing perspectives on talent, infrastructure and opportunity at the grassroots level.
Explaining the intent behind the initiative, Tak Channels managing editor Milind Khandekar said the Viksit UP Baithak was conceived as a space for “honest, informed and forward-looking discussions” at a time when the state is undergoing rapid change. He noted that bringing decision-makers and experts together allows challenges to be addressed through practical solutions rooted in real experience.
All sessions, interviews and panel discussions from the baithak will be streamed on the UP Tak Youtube channel, opening up the dialogue to viewers across the state. By taking the conversation beyond the venue and into the digital public square, UP Tak aims to ensure that the debate on Uttar Pradesh’s future is not just heard, but shared.
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.
