Journalism in India has changed dramatically over the past decade. Television remains a powerful medium, but leading journalists now reach audiences through digital news platforms, YouTube, podcasts and social media as well. What has not changed is the influence of a strong journalist who can explain complex events, question public figures and keep viewers engaged during major national and international developments.
India has produced many such journalists who have built their reputation through years of reporting, anchoring, political coverage, interviews and newsroom leadership. Some are known for sharp prime-time debates, while others have developed their identity through international affairs, election coverage or detailed news analysis. This 2026 list focuses on journalists with strong public recognition, substantial professional experience and an active presence in Indian news media.
1. Palki Sharma
Palki Sharma opens this 2026 list after moving from senior anchoring into independent media entrepreneurship. Her career has included Doordarshan, Hindustan Times, CNN-IBN, WION and Firstpost. In 2026, she stepped down from Firstpost and launched India Global Review (IGR), a digital-first global media company based in India.
Sharma is best known for international affairs and geopolitics. Gravitas at WION and Vantage at Firstpost helped establish her explanatory, monologue-led format. She now anchors The Palki Sharma Show on IGR, covering diplomacy, wars, economics, technology and global power shifts through an India-centred perspective.
2. Sudhir Chaudhary
Sudhir Chaudhary remains one of Hindi television’s most recognisable prime-time anchors. His career spans more than three decades and includes senior roles at Zee News, WION, Zee Business and Aaj Tak. He became widely associated with Zee News’ Daily News & Analysis, or DNA, and later presented Black & White on Aaj Tak.
He currently hosts Decode on DD News. Launched in May 2025, the programme continued to draw a large digital audience in 2026. Chaudhary’s format relies on direct-to-camera explanation, graphics and long monologues on politics, international affairs, the economy and social issues.
3. Rubika Liyaquat
Rubika Liyaquat has nearly two decades of experience across major Hindi television networks, including Live India, News24, Zee News, ABP News, Bharat24, News18 India and Times Now Navbharat. She is particularly known for political interviews, election coverage and high-energy prime-time anchoring.
Times Now Navbharat appointed her Senior Executive Editor and Vice President – Special Projects in June 2026, with responsibility for News Ki Pathshala. She left the network in September 2026 after a short tenure. As of early October 2026, her next professional move has not been publicly announced, but her long television career keeps her among India’s most familiar Hindi news faces.
4. Amish Devgan
Amish Devgan has more than two decades of broadcast experience spanning business news, political coverage and Hindi prime-time television. He spent many years with Zee Media before joining Network18, where he became closely associated with News18 India’s debate programme Aar Paar.
In September 2026, Devgan left Network18 and was appointed Managing Editor of Times Now Navbharat. His background includes newsroom management, economic reporting and debate-led programming. The new role gives him responsibility beyond anchoring, placing him in a senior editorial position at one of India’s major Hindi news networks.
5. Ashok Srivastava
Ashok Srivastava is a senior DD News journalist whose career combines anchoring and extensive field reporting. Over nearly three decades, he has covered major political events, Kashmir, Ayodhya, elections and overseas visits involving Indian prime ministers.
In 2026, he remains closely associated with the DD News prime-time programme Do Tuke. Srivastava is also an author and public speaker. His long career with India’s public broadcaster gives him a different professional profile from anchors who have moved mainly between private television networks, while his current work keeps him visible among viewers of Hindi political and current-affairs programming.
6. Anjana Om Kashyap
Anjana Om Kashyap is one of Aaj Tak’s best-known anchors and a senior editorial figure within the TV Today Network. Programmes such as Halla Bol and Special Report have made her a familiar presence in Hindi news, particularly during political debates, elections and major breaking stories.
Kashyap has spent decades in television journalism and has covered numerous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections from both studios and the ground. Her rapid questioning style and experience with live political discussion remain central to her public identity. She continues to be one of Aaj Tak’s most visible anchors in 2026.
7. Arnab Goswami
Arnab Goswami remains one of India’s highest-profile television journalists. After working with The Telegraph, NDTV and Times Now, he founded Republic Media Network. In 2026, he continues as the network’s Founder, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief.
Goswami is closely associated with high-intensity prime-time debates, interviews and personality-led television. His formats have influenced the style of Indian news debates over the past two decades. Republic has also expanded beyond a single English news channel into multilingual broadcast and digital operations, with further digital and business-news expansion announced in 2026.
8. Sweta Singh
Sweta Singh is among Aaj Tak’s longest-serving and most recognisable journalists. The network identifies her as a Managing Editor within TV Today Network, with responsibility for programming. She has spent more than 25 years in journalism and has been associated with Aaj Tak for roughly two decades.
Singh has worked across breaking news, elections, sports, major national events and special programming. Her role also includes editorial and programming responsibilities beyond daily anchoring. That combination of newsroom leadership, studio presentation and field experience has helped her maintain a strong profile in Hindi television news in 2026.
Navika Kumar is a senior journalist and Editor-in-Chief within the Times Group’s television news operations. Her career includes political reporting, investigations, interviews and editorial leadership, with a long association with Times Now and Times Now Navbharat.
In 2026, Kumar also expanded into a softer long-form format with the podcast Baatein Dil Se, featuring conversations with personalities from entertainment and public life. She remains active in political interviews and news analysis, but her work now spans television and podcasting. Her combination of newsroom authority and on-air visibility gives her a prominent place in Indian television journalism.
10. Sushant Sinha
Sushant Sinha has built a large Hindi-news following through formats based on explanation and direct-to-camera presentation. After earlier work with television networks including Times Now Navbharat, he joined News18 India’s revamped prime-time line-up in June 2026 with Desh Ki Pathshala.
The programme focuses on explaining the background and consequences of major stories rather than simply reading headlines. It gained substantial online attention after launch. Sinha also reflects a wider change in Indian television: individual anchors increasingly build digital audiences that follow them across networks, strengthening their public identity beyond any one channel.
What Makes These Journalists Stand Out in 2026?
These journalists do not share one format or editorial approach. Palki Sharma concentrates on global affairs. Sudhir Chaudhary, Rubika Liyaquat, Amish Devgan, Ashok Srivastava and Sushant Sinha are prominent in Hindi prime-time formats. Arnab Goswami is strongly associated with debate television, while Anjana Om Kashyap, Sweta Singh and Navika Kumar combine anchoring with senior editorial responsibilities.
Fame, however, should not be confused with accuracy on every issue. Readers benefit from comparing multiple outlets, separating reporting from commentary and checking original documents where practical.
Conclusion
India’s media industry keeps changing, but strong individual news personalities still shape how audiences encounter current affairs. These ten journalists represent some of the most visible names in Indian television and digital news in 2026, each with a different career path, format and audience.
