News Broadcasting
Times Network is all geared up for its second digital India summit & awards 2016
MUMBAI: Times Network, the leading English broadcast network in the country, has unveiled the agenda and list of power-packed speakers for its upcoming Second Digital India Summit & Awards 2016, which are to be held on 22 March in New Delhi.
The Second Digital India Summit will see some of the most important architects of India’s digital revolution congregate for the all-day event. Times Network has organized the significant initiative to take a closer look at India’s progress in the digital world. Union Minister of communications and information technology Ravi Shankar Prasad, chief guest of the second digital India summit will deliver the keynote address at the conclave.
The Sessions and Speakers:
Delivering on Digital India Dream: The Story So Far
This session will have panelists like Arvind Gupta (National Head-BJP-IT Cell) Amit Midha (President Dell Asia Pacific & Japan; Chairman, Dell Emerging Markets-) Noshir Kaka (MD – McKinsey India ) Amit Jain (CEO, Uber India), Satyan Gajwani (Managing Director, Times Internet Ltd), R Chandrasekhar (President- NASSCOM);, Karl Mehta (Founder,CEO Edcast) Joe So (Global CTO Enterprise Business Group-Huawei).
This power packed panel will discuss topics like Digital India: Where Do We Stand and Government’s Key Initiatives under Digital India Program which includes Digital Locker, Twitter Samvad, Swach Bharat Mission Mobile App and Jeevan Pramaan.
Building A Digital Economy
The speakers at this session include Arun Tiwari (Chairman & MD – Union Bank of India) Ravinder Pal Singh (Director Solutions Strategy & Biz Development – Dell) Sandeep Aurora (Director, Marketing and Market Development – Intel South Asia), , Milind Bengali (Chief Operating Officer, Business Operations – GTL Infrastructure Ltd), Chandan Kumar (Director, Marketing and Integrated Solutions – Huawei Telecommunications India Pvt.Ltd) Jagdish Mitra (Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer, Head Growth Factories – Tech Mahindra). They will discuss Roadmap To Change India’s Future and throw light on India’s Digital Population that is transforming economy, business landscape, governance and society alike.
Digital India – Developing Digital Entrepreneurs
This important topic will be explored by eminent speakers like Ravi Gururaj (Chairman – Founder & CEO QikPod & NASSCOM Product Council), Sharad Sharma (Co-Founder – iSpirt) Saurabh Srivastava (Entrepreneur & Co-Founder – Indian Angel Network), Kavin Bharti Mittal,Founder & CEO,Hike Messenger, Sanjeev Aggarwal (Founder– Helion Ventures), Sanjay Sethi (Founder & CEO – ShopClues), Mahesh Murthy (Founder & Co-Founder – Pinstorm & Seedfund). The panelists of the third session will discuss about how the internet is enabling entrepreneurs to tap the big Indian e-commerce opportunity. They will also talk about the entrepreneurial opportunities at the intersection of Make in India and Digital India.
Making India an Electronics Manufacturing Hub
The panelists on this session include thought leaders like Ajai Chowdhry (Chairman-Electronics Sector Skills Council of India), Sudhir Hasija (Chairman – Karbonn) , Nitin Kunkolienkar (VP & Director-MAIT & Smartlink) , Sunil Vachani (CMD – Dixon Technologies) and Murali Arikara (Executive Director – Essential Energy India Pvt Ltd). They will discuss subjects like Recent Developments and Incentives for Electronics Industry along with the challenges involved.
Developing Digital Workforce
The discussion on this crucial area will have eminent experts like Rahul Patwardhan (CEO – NIIT), Shrikant Sinha (CEO-NASSCOM Foundation), Raj Raghavan (HR Head – Amazon India) , Prithvi Shergill (Global HR – HCL Tech), Raja Sekhar Reddy (Director & Chief Operating Officer – Innovsource Private Limited), Ashok Reddy (Co-Founder – Teamlease), Vivek Madhukar – Chief Operating Officer (Times Business Solutions)and discuss how critical the skilled workforce digital India mission is, and will examine the Government’s measures to enhance digital literacy in the country. Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore will give a special address on the occasion.
The Digital India Summit will conclude with an award function in the evening, the Digital India Awards, which will continue the objective of showcasing and honoring the most inspirational digital work in the country. Guest of Honour R S Sharma, Chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India will give away the awards.
Award categories:
* Good For India’ has Smart City solutions in seven categories – E-governance solutions, E-education learning solutions, E-healthcare delivery solutions, Skills & employment solutions, Energy solutions, Environment solutions and Agricultural Solutions
* Good For Organizations’ has four categories under Digital Enterprise, which are Manufacturing, Services, Digital Start-up Innovators and Digital Social Innovation
The awards have received an overwhelming participation from corporates and individuals. An eminent jury comprising of Aruna Jayanthi, CEO, Capgemini, R Chandrasekhar, President NASSCOM, Kiran Karnik, Chairman, CII, National Committee Telecom & Broadband, & Shinjini Kumar, CEO, Payments Bank, Paytm, Joy Chakraborty – COO – P D Hinduja Hospital, Ashutosh Jain, Chief Information Security Officer, Axis Bank judged the award entries in a daylong session. E&Y is the process partner for the awards.
PARTNERS:
Supporting the Event is the Lead Partner for the Summit and Award Partner for the Awards- Huawei, Our Lead Partners- GTL Infrastructure and Union Bank of India, Recruitment Partner-Times Job, Digital Partner Tech Mahindra, Digital Storage Partner Western Digital, Knowledge Partner MAIT and Tech 4 Good Partner NASSCOM Foundation, Exclusive Chamber Partner FICCI.
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.
