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India Today group to host 2nd edition of india today conclave south in hyderabad
MUMBAI: After the mega success of the first edition, the India Today Group will host the 2nd Edition of India Today Conclave South 2018 in Hyderabad, on 18th and 19th January. Chief Ministers, political leaders, movie stars, artists, business tycoons, thought leaders and news makers from the south will converge on India’s most respected conclave for the South to discuss, debate and decipher the roadmap of the six southern states.
The two days of the conclave will include insightful sessions, networking lunches and a gala dinner with politicians, business leaders, movie stars and some of south India’s finest minds. As a forum, it aspires to unite the common voice of these states, and push their causes to promote culture, politics, entertainment and investment growth, in line with the states’ and centre’s socio-economic development agendas.
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Telangana have a combined GDP of over $400 billion and when put together, are among the top 30 economies of the world, contributing over 22 per cent of India’s GDP and 28 per cent of India’s employment. They account for 20 per cent of India’s population and contribute almost 30 per cent of India’s tax revenues. By 2020, it is projected that South India will become a $1,200 billion economy. With human development indices of the south growing higher than the rest of India, it is clear that the higher the south rises, the better India will do. Come to India Today Conclave South to see the southern sunrise.
The top speakers during the event, spread over 20 sessions, include the below. (* invited)
Chief Ministers
• K. Chandrasekhar Rao, Chief Minister, Telengana
• N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister, Andhra Pradesh
• V. Narayanasamy, Chief Minister, Puducherry
• Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister, Karnataka*
Stars, Actors, Artists
• M Mohan Babu, Actor, producer
• Lakshmi Manchu, Actor
• Gauthami, Actor
• Khushbu Sundar, Actor
• Taapsee Pannu, Actor
• Yamini Reddy, Dancer
• Bhavana Reddy, Singer, Dancer
• Praveen Sparsh, Musician
• Prakash Raj, Actor
• S.K. Sasidharan, Film Director
• Vishal, Actor*
• Bina Paul, Film Editor
• Shruti Hariharan, Actor
• Pranitha Subhash, Actor
• Kajal Aggarwal, Actor
• Parvathy Nair, Actor
• Nayanthara, Actor*
• Sumukhi Suresh, Stand-Up Comedienne
• Nikhita Gandhi, Singer
• Shahshaa Tirupati, Singer
• Karthik, Singer
Business Tycoons, Industrialists
• G.V. Prasad, Co-Chairman and CEO, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories
• G.V. Krishna Reddy, Chairman, GVK Group
• George Alexander Muthoot, Managing Director, Muthoot Group*
• Sumithra Gomatam, President, Digital Operations, Cognizant
• A.S. Murthy, CTO, Tech Mahindra
• Smruti Parida, CTO, Nestaway Technologies
• Ananth Narayanan, CEO, Myntra–Jabong*
Political Leaders, Newsmakers, Activists, Thought Leaders, Change makers
• Divya Spandana, Former MP, Head of Congress Social Media Department
• A.S. Kiran Kumar, Chairman, ISRO
• Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister, Human Resource Development*
• Dinesh Gundo Rao, Working President, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee
• Asaduddin Owaisi, President, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen
• B. Vinod Kumar, MP, Telangana Rashtra Samithi
• D. Raja, Rajya Sabha Member, CPI*
• Dr V. Maitreyan, MP, Rajya Sabha, AIADMK
• T.T.V. Dhinakaran, MLA, Tamil Nadu
• Jayanthi Natarajan, Former Union Minister*
• Palanivel Thiyagarajan, MLA and senior DMK Leader *
• Deepa Jayakumar, General Secretary, MGR Amma Deepa Peravai
• P.H. Pandian, Ex-Speaker, Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and MLA, AIADMK*
• Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MP, Rajya Sabha
• Ramesh Chennithala, Leader of the Opposition, Kerala Legislative Assembly
• J. Nandakumar, National Convenor of Prajna Pravah, All India Executive Committee Member, RSS
• Lavanya Nalli, Vice Chairman, Nalli Group
• Anavila Misra, Fashion Designer
• Gaurang Shah, Fashion Designer
• Shravan Kumar, Fashion Designer
• Daivajna K.N. Somayaji, Astrologer
• N.S. Madhavan, Writer
• Prakash Belawadi, Actor, Activist
• S. Thirunavukkarasar, President, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee
• MM Pallam Raju, Former Union Minister, Human Resource Development
• T.K. Vinod Kumar, ADGP (Intelligence), Kerala Police
• P K Hormis Tharakan , Former Director, R&AW, Former DGP, Kerala Police
• Bindu Sampath
• V.S. Sunil Kumar, Minister for Agriculture, Kerala
• P. Chengal Reddy, Chief Advisor, Consortium of Indian Farmers Associations
• Krishna Byre Gowda, Minister for Agriculture, Karnataka*
• P. Ayyakannu,President, Desiya Thennindia Nadigal Inaiappu Vivasayigal Sangam, Tiruchirapalli*
• Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Minister for Agriculture, Telangana*
News Broadcasting
BBC to cut up to 2,000 jobs in biggest overhaul in 15 years
Cost pressures and leadership change drive major workforce reduction plan
LONDON: BBC has unveiled plans to cut up to 2,000 jobs, roughly 10 per cent of its global workforce, in what marks its biggest downsizing in 15 years.
The announcement was made during an all-staff meeting led by interim director-general Rhodri Talfan Davies, as the broadcaster moves to tackle mounting financial pressures and reshape its operations.
Between 1,800 and 2,000 roles are expected to be eliminated from a workforce of around 21,500. The cuts form part of a broader plan to save £500 million over the next two years, aimed at offsetting rising costs, stagnating licence fee income and weaker commercial revenues.
In a communication to staff, BBC interim director-general Rhodri Talfan Davies said, “I know this creates real uncertainty, but we wanted to be open about the challenge,” acknowledging the impact the move would have across the organisation.
The restructuring comes at a time of leadership transition. Former director-general Tim Davie stepped down earlier this month, with Matt Brittin, a former Google executive, set to take over the role on May 18, 2026.
While some cost-cutting measures are being implemented immediately, the majority of the structural changes are expected to roll out over the next few years, with full savings targeted by the 2027–2028 financial year.
The broadcaster had earlier signalled its intent to reduce its cost base by around 10 per cent over a three-year period, warning of “difficult choices” as it adapts to shifting economic realities and audience expectations.
With operating costs hovering around £6 billion annually, the BBC’s latest move underscores the scale of the financial challenge it faces, as it balances public service commitments with the need for long-term sustainability in an increasingly competitive media landscape.
