Rajat Sharma Re-elected NBDA President: Leadership Shift in India's News Broadcasting and Digital Media Sector

Rajat Sharma, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of India TV, has been unanimously re-elected as the President of the News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA) for the year 2026-27. This decision was taken during a meeting of the NBDA's Board of Directors.

Role and Membership of NBDA:

The NBDA is the apex industry body for news and current affairs television and digital broadcasters in India. According to the latest available information, it comprises 29 major news and current affairs broadcasters, representing approximately 130 news channels and digital platforms. Some recent reports cite the figure as 136 platforms; therefore, it is advisable to prioritize the organization's official information for examination purposes.

New Members on the NBDA Board:

At the NBDA's 19th Annual General Meeting (AGM), Jayant Mammen Mathew of MM TV Ltd. was inducted into the Board of Directors. Additionally, Rachna Burman of The Times Group and Kshipra Jatana of Network18 Media & Investments were appointed as permanent directors.

Institutional Representation in the Media Sector:

The NBDA board comprises senior representatives from various leading media organizations. These include representatives from media groups such as Mathrubhumi, News24, TV Today Network, Zee Media, ABP Network, NDTV, and Sun TV Network. This highlights the body's role as an institutional platform for self-regulation, industry representation, and broadcasting-related issues within the Indian news media sector.

Key facts for the exam:

For UPSC aspirants, the key facts associated with this news are—Rajat Sharma → NBDA President → Tenure 2026-27 → Unanimous re-election → 19th AGM → Jayant Mammen Mathew → Rachna Barman and Kshipra Jatana → Representation of news and digital media. This topic is useful for understanding the interlinkages between Current Affairs, Governance, and Media & Communication.