Sushmita Panda is a senior correspondent for Healthcare & Pharma at Financial Express. With a passion for impactful storytelling, she’s carved a niche in covering critical issues like drug patents, mental health, and innovative therapies, making her a force to watch in healthcare journalism 1. How did you get started in journalism?  From a young age, I was always inclined toward journalism. It's interesting to look back on those days when my father made me read the newspapers. He would quiz me about the day's events, and slowly it became second nature. It was a ritual to buy and read annual GK books; little did I know this habit was shaping my destiny.  Despite my passion for reading and writing, my father wanted a STEM career for me. After my board exams, I nervously confessed my dream of being a journalist. Even though I was adamant, a part of me wasn’t sure I could truly achieve this dream. My father had his hesitations, but I was determined. I left science and pursu

Republic Bharat, the flagship Hindi news channel of Republic Media Network, is hosting Sangam - Sahitya, Sur and Shakti on Friday, December 20, 2024, at its headquarters in Noida. Aiming to promote India’s cultural heritage, the event will feature prominent personalities from the world of literature, art, music, politics, sports and entertainment. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurated the event by lighting a lamp. Addressing the gathering, Shekhawat emphasised the rich Indian culture, stating, “The discussion of Indian literature begins from the Vedic period. People from all over the world came here to know about India, but those who were jealous of India’s civilization, culture and progress came to India as invaders. In history, attempts were made to wipe out India’s culture.” The attendees of the event included Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, singer Swati Mishra, poet Anamika Ambar Jain, Kathak dancer Dr Sonal Mansingh, humourist Surendra Sharma

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) held an open house to discuss its consultation paper, Framework for Service Authorisations for the Provision of Broadcasting Services under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. The OHD witnessed participation from various broadcasters, broadcast bodies, DTH operators, consultants, news organisations, cable operators and more. According to e4m, the discussion unfurled an argument when DTH players accused OTT platforms of enjoying unfair advantages, and broadcasters opposed proposals to bring broadcasting under the Telecom Act, as it could undermine their unique identity. Siboney Sagar, Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF) emphasised the significance of content regulation, arguing that broadcasting should remain under the MIB rather than being incorporated into the Telecommunications Act, as this could undermine its creative and constitutional aspects. “The proposed framework in this consultation paper blurs these lines and

The ongoing winter session of Parliament took a tumultuous turn with heated debates, physical altercations, and political protests over Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on B.R. Ambedkar. Opposition parties under the INDIA bloc demanded an apology, accusing Shah of undermining Ambedkar’s legacy. According to The Hindu, INDIA bloc MPs staged protests in the Parliament premises, alleging that Shah’s comments were part of a broader attempt to distort historical narratives. As tempers flared, Indian Express’ Liz Mathews, Manoj CG, Asad Rehman and Pragynesh reported that a faceoff between BJP and Congress escalated into a physical altercation, leaving two BJP MPs injured. FIRs were subsequently filed against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for his alleged involvement in the scuffle. The BJP accused the opposition of orchestrating chaos to disrupt governance, while Congress leaders maintained that the ruling party’s provocation led to the incident. Adding to the drama, Hindustan Tim

Ankit Sharma specialises in real estate, construction, and sustainable cities. With over 12 years of experience in both print and online media, he covers diverse sectors including urban planning, architecture, and interior design. For the past six years, Ankit has managed all aspects of ETRealty, beyond just writing industry news. 1) How did you get started in journalism? I graduated in journalism and mass communication from SJMC, Devi Ahilya University, Indore, where I developed an interest in covering stories that impact the masses. I joined the Economic Times in 2016 as a Senior Correspondent covering the real estate sector and allied industries. Here, I learned the nuances of writing business news and have been with the company for eight years now. 2. Can you describe your work and the stories your team most commonly works on? I have been single-handedly managing ETRealty, the real estate portal of The Economic Times. I cover real estate, sustainable cities, housing finance,

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued an advisory for OTT platforms, cautioning them against streaming content that inadvertently promotes or glorifies the use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.   In an official release, the Ministry urged all platforms to be ‘mindful of their social responsibility’ in shaping public opinion and behaviour through their content.   MIB underscores the provisions of Part-III of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, notified under the Information Technology Act, 2000, which states that publishers are not to transmit, publish, or exhibit any content that is prohibited under any law for the time being in force or has been prohibited by any court.   The platforms are advised to exercise due diligence in content, adhere to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), 1985, educate viewers on the dangers of drug abuse and use disclaimers and warn

Moneycontrol's second edition of the India Fintech Conclave took place on December 18, 2024, in Mumbai. The conclave centred around the theme ‘Innovate: Transform: Regulate’, provided a platform that brought together policymakers, regulators, bankers, fintech founders and some influential leaders of the fintech ecosystem.   The conclave witnessed the presence of various industry experts, including Ananth Narayan, a whole-time member of SEBI; K V Kamath, an independent director and non-executive chairman of Jio Financial Services; Kunal Shah, founder of CRED; Prithvi Chandrasekhar, CEO of InCred Finance, Shri Ashishkumar Chauhan, CEO of National Stock Exchange of India, Shripal Shah, MD and CEO of Kotak Securities, Ujjwal Jain, CEO of Share.Market, Sandeep Bhardwaj, chief operating and digital officer of HDFC Securities and more.   Ananth Narayan, a whole-time member of SEBI, asserted that the F&O regulation aims to curb overtrading on expiry days. Speaking at Moneycontro