A news anchor is often called the face of the media industry. They not only serve to deliver the news but also shape the news narrative and influence public opinion through various styles of reporting, presentation, and credibility. In India, for a democracy wherein news plays a crucial role, the contribution of top news anchors has been very significant. From breaking hard-hitting news stories to engaging in debates on critical national issues, these presenters have made their mark because of the distinctiveness of their approach to journalism.
\This article details the 15 top news anchor in India, focusing on what they bring and what sets them apart in the media landscape. If you’re looking to establish a platform highlighting such influential figures, partnering with the Best News Portal Development Company in India – 7k Network can ensure a robust and dynamic online presence to showcase such impactful stories effectively.
The Impact of News Anchors on Public Opinion
- Storytelling: News anchoring is the anchor to the building of context and a particular tone from where the main event or issues of interest to the public come alive.
- Building Trust and Credibility: The source of reliable information trusted by the audience is what makes news anchoring credible. It significantly influences perceptions and shapes public opinion regarding sensitive issues.
- Social Cause: Top news anchors in India use their platforms to discuss issues that go wrong in society, which will lead to more discussions and policy changes in the future.
- Enhancing Political Consciousness: Top news anchors in India usually interview, debate, or have panel discussions about the political situation in the country, then follow the lead of voting and other activities in society.
- Accountability Advocate: By questioning those in authority and airing corruption or incompetence, anchors generally tend to shape public expectations about governance and transparency.
- Imparting Sound Reasoning: Since anchors can critically analyze news items with balanced viewpoints, viewers can use their informed opinion-making ability instead of taking things at face value.
Why News Anchors Matter in India’s Media Landscape
- Widespread Reach and Large Trust: TV is still the primary information supplier for a massive chunk of the Indian demography, specially in the cities and the villages. As per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) over 70% of the houses in India own a TV. Top news anchors, since they are usually assigned to top slots of prime time on major channels, essentially, reach millions of viewers on day to day.
- Agenda Setting and Narrative Framing: News anchors make significant contributions in deciding which of the story gets prominence and gets framed for the audience. They can shape public perception of news and issues by having control of what issues are discussed in a debate, what questions they ask in an interview and the attitude the presenters use.
- Promoting Public Debate and Political Awareness: Many of India’s leading news anchors present prime time debate programs that become a discussion for matters of major concern such as society, economy and politics. These debates, frequently composed of politicians, authorities and pundits, can increase public knowledge, increase political consciousness and parties aiming citizens to produce one of their views.
- Holding Power to Account and Advocating for Social Justice: News anchors usually act as a watchdog who takes stand against the people with authority and highlights the corruption, the mismanagement like this or fight against the social injustice. Their reporting can prioritize important issues onto the national agenda, break public outrage and dairy government action or policy changes.
- Breaking Down Complexity and Applying Logic: Needless to say, top news anchor in India are capable of boiling down complex problems into digestible chunks for the general public. By using plain language, visual aids, and notion-prophesied and assessment, they present a clear CLIP explaining the intricacies of complicated subjects, provided for teaching the citizenry. This is especially pertinent in a country like India, where as diverse a country is there are even big differences in the India’s population when it comes down to the access to the information and the level of education.
Famous Indian Journalists: Channels, Languages & Awards
| Name | Channel | Language | Known For | Awards |
| Sudhir Chaudhary | Aaj Tak | Hindi | DNA show, investigative reporting | Ramnath Goenka Award, ENBA Award |
| Barkha Dutt | Mojo Story | English | War reporting, investigative journalism | Padma Shri, Emmy nomination, Global Leader for Tomorrow by WEF |
| Arnab Goswami | Republic TV | English | Newshour debates, aggressive interviewing | Ramnath Goenka Award, Asian Television Award |
| Anjana Om Kashyap | Aaj Tak | Hindi | Special Report, Halla Bol | ENBA Award, ITA Award |
| Amish Devgan | News18 India | Hindi | Prime time debates, “Aar Paar” show | Best News Anchor (Hindi) at ENBA Awards, ITA Award for Best Anchor |
| Kishore Ajwani | News18 India | Hindi | Breaking news coverage, “Desh Nahi Jhukne Denge” | Best News Presenter at ITA Awards, ENBA Award for Best Anchor |
| Rubika Liyaquat | News18 India | Hindi | Master Stroke, AB Tak | ENBA Award |
| Shweta Singh | Aaj Tak | Hindi | Desh Tak, political reporting | Multiple industry recognitions |
| Sumit Awasthi | IBN7 (Former) | Hindi | Political analysis, election coverage | Indian Television Academy Award |
| Richa Anirudh | Independent | Hindi | Zindagi Live, social issue reporting | Laadli Media Award |
| Rajat Sharma | India TV | Hindi | Aap Ki Adalat | Padma Bhushan, Indian Television Academy Hall of Fame |
| Shereen Bhan | CNBC-TV18 | English | Business journalism, Young Turks | FICCI Woman of the Year, Ramnath Goenka Award |
| Nidhi Razdan | NDTV (Former) | English | Left, Right & Centre | Ramnath Goenka Award, ENBA Award |
| Rahul Kanwal | India Today Group | English | Investigative journalism, election coverage | Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award |
| Punya Prasun Bajpai | (Former ABP News) | Hindi | Master Stroke, investigative journalism | Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Award |
List of Top 15 News Anchors in India
1. Sudhir Chaudhary
- Employer: Aaj Tak (Current), Former Zee News
- Known For: DNA show, investigative reports. DNA was a show where Chaudhary used to break down current events into more digestible elements, by using visual ethers. He achieved considerable popularity with the Indian Parliament attack coverage for the Indian television channel Zee News in 2001.
- Years Active: 1993-present
- Awards: Ramnath Goenka Award, ENBA Award
Sudhir Chaudhary is a well-known name in Hindi Journalism, more highlighted for his longest running show ‘DNA’, which has managed a large viewership — some of the time in excess of 10 million viewers in its prime time. His investigative coverage of a multitude of social, political and economic topics have sparked much government and public debate and examination. What’s more, his reports of news such as the JNU matter and the black money kept abroad have started nationwide debate.
His stepping into Aaj Tak from Zee News in the year 2022 made him even more popular as a top Hindi news anchor and also evidenced his power to reach thousands of viewers on different platforms. While Sudhir represents the senior male voices in journalism, platforms like Aaj Tak are also recognized for their diverse talent pool, including prominent names in the Aaj Tak news anchor female list, making it one of the most balanced newsrooms in the country.
2. Barkha Dutt
- Employer: Former NDTV, Founder of Mojo Story
- Known for: War Journalism, investigative Journalism. Dutt is famous for her bold reporting straight from the front line during the Kargil War in 1999, bringing the every reality of the war into the Indian households.
- Years Active: 1995-present
- Awards: Padma Shri, Emmy nomination, WEF Global Leader for Tomorrow
Barkha Dutt is India’s foremost and respected journalist, known for her undaunted reporting—especially during the 1999 Kargil War—which earned her national recognition. Her award-winning membranes of reporting have covered a wide array of pressing social stories and political surveillance, addressing how the 2002 Gujarat riots and various scams were covered. As the founder of the digital news platform Mojo Story,
Dutt keeps delivering deeper, and often, explosive reports – human stories and stories of marginalized communities. Her reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic, which also included immersion reporting, exposed the plight of the man on the street. Widely acknowledged as a Top News Anchor in India, she continues to shape the landscape of Indian journalism with fearless storytelling.
3. Arnab Goswami
- Employer: Republic TV (Founder), Former Times Now
- Known For: Newshour debates, very confrontational interviewing style. Goswami is famous for his aggressive, hacky-on. Though criticized for his reporting on the 2008 Mumbai attacks, he gained a lot of publicity.
- Active years: 1995-present
- Awards: Winner of Ramnath Goenka Award, Asian Television Award
Arnab Goswami is widely regarded as one of the top news anchor in India, known for revolutionizing prime-time debates with his high-energy and assertive style. His impactful show The Newshour, first on Times Now and later on Republic TV, consistently dominated viewership in the English news genre.
With the launch of Republic TV, Goswami created one of India’s most-watched English news channels, regularly topping prime-time ratings with millions of viewers. His coverage of major national events, such as the Pulwama attack and the Sushant Singh Rajput case, significantly shaped public discourse and cemented his status as a leading voice in Indian journalism.
4. Anjana Om Kashyap
- Employer: Managing Editor at Aaj Tak
- Known For: Bindass Special Report, Halla Bol. Kashyap is being appreciated for her aggressiveness with balanced news decoding, particularly on her show “Halla Bol” that addresses cumbersome societal and political problems. Her exhaustive coverage of 2019 Lok sabha was highly acclaimed for its volume and analysis.
- Years Active: 2003-present
- Awards: ENBA Award, ITA Award
As a modern successful face in Hindi journalism, Anjana Om Kashyap is a prominent female voice whom the audience respects for her balanced approach to news presentation and interviewing. Her show “Halla Bol” has become a pedestal for speaking on crucial social and political issues affecting the nation. She has reported many major events, such as elections and natural catastrophes, with a distinct twist of news coverage.
Her interviewing style is assertive yet empathetic, making difficult political discussions understandable to viewers. She has kept her credibility while discussing controversial issues throughout her career. Featured in many compilations like the Aaj Tak news anchor female list, Anjana continues to inspire countless women to pursue careers in broadcast journalism.
5. Amish Devgan
- Employer: Managing Editor at News18 India
- Known for: Time-leading debates and the “Aar Paar” show. Devgan’s prime-time attention-grabbing spoken-word show Aar Paar is famous for conveying totally incisive views on bland and unimaginative political and societal matters. His report sometimes stresses the nationalist perspective, especially during big nationwide events and political updates.
- Years Active: 2004-present
- Awards: Best News Anchor (Hindi) at ENBA Awards, ITA Award for Best Anchor
Amish Devgan has grown not just as a powerful voice in Hindi news television, but also as one of the top news anchor in India, especially known for his fast-paced prime-time debate program ‘Aar Paar’ on News18 India. The show has consistently drawn millions of viewers who tune in to watch political and social issues being presented and argued by him in an assertive style.
Devgan is known for a tightly packed interview format blended with aggressive interrogation and a focus on fact-based journalism, which often leads to high-intensity, contentious exchanges with politicians.
6. Kishore Ajwani
- Employer: Managing Editor at News18 India
- Known for: Breaking news coverage, “Desh Nahi Jhukne Denge”. Ajwani is most often recognized for his composed and peaceful state when dealing with breaking news. His program ‘Desh Nahi Jhukne Dunga’ sticks to fact based reporting and in depth analysis of national issues and traffic most of the time to avoid sensationalism. His explanation of the 2016 demonetization announcement was appreciated for its simplicity.
- Years Active: 1997-present
- Awards: Best News Presenter at Indian Television Academy Awards, ENBA Award for Best Anchor
Kishore Ajwani is a veteran news anchor, best known for his calm and composed demeanor during high-pressure breaking news situations—delivering clarity and stability when coverage can otherwise spiral. His flagship programme “Desh Nahi Jhukne Denge” on News18 India has emerged as a trusted platform for discussing important national issues
with a strong focus on fact-based reporting, avoiding sensationalism. Recognized as a top news anchor in India, Ajwani also serves as the Managing Editor of News18 India, where he leads the editorial team and ensures journalistic quality and direction across the channel.
7. Rubika Liyaquat
- Employer: Consulting Editor at News18 India
- Known For: Master Stroke, AB Tak. Liyaquat is well-known for her concise and fair presentation style on programs such as “Master Stroke”, which covers almost all political and social topics. All her interviews with top politicians have proved to have massive following.
- Years Active: 2007-present
- Awards: ENBA Award
Rubika Liyaquat is a well-known contemporary Hindi journalist with a strong and influential voice. She has gained popularity through her balanced commentary on popular shows like Master Stroke and AB Tak during her five-year stint at ABP News. These programs received wide recognition for their in-depth analysis of national political and social issues.
Known for her sharp interviewing style, Rubika has conducted insightful conversations with top political leaders and celebrities, often extracting compelling perspectives. As of April 2025, she is associated with News18 India, where she serves as a Consulting Editor. She joined the channel in January 2024 after her tenure as Vice President at Bharat24, where she worked for five months.
Her career also includes roles at Zee News, where she hosted Taal Thok Ke, along with contributions at News24, Aaj Tak, and Live India TV. At News18 India, she works alongside other prominent anchors like Kishore Ajwani, Amish Devgan, and Aman Chopra. The channel has consistently led the Hindi TV news segment in viewership for over 18 months.
Due to her widespread popularity and journalistic impact, Rubika continues to be a prominent figure in discussions surrounding the top news anchor in India.
8. Shweta Singh
- Employer: Aaj Tak
- Known for: Desh Tak, Politics desk. Singh has grown to become a respected journalist in the field of politics, appreciated for her insights and down to earth reporting on national politics through her show “Desh Tak.” Her extensive coverage of different elections’ run has become a staple of her career.
- Years Active: 2006-present
- Awards: Multiple industry recognitions
Shweta Singh has carved a niche for herself in the area of political journalism through her sharp analysis and extensive coverage of national politics. She has taken her program “Desh Tak” to the ground level through in-depth political analysis and its effects on common citizens. She is a top news anchor in India. She has covered several election cycles and key political events, emphasizing the depth of her reporting through thorough research. Her interviewing style is a mix of persistence and respect, which helps her to extract meaningful insights from her subjects. She has always kept her focus on fact-based reporting while handling sensitive political topics throughout her career. Her work has significantly contributed to political journalism in India.
9. Sumit Awasthi
- Employer: IBN7 (Former), News Nation
- Known For: Political analysis, election coverage. Awasthi is best known for breaking down high political situations for audiences, especially during elections, in which he integrates data analysis with reports on the ground.
- Years Active: 1995-present
- Awards: Indian Television Academy Award
Sumit Awasthi has been a distinctive reporter with his in-depth coverage of Indian politics and ability to simplify complex political situations before the viewer. Election coverage, particularly, has been impressive as he has combined data analysis with ground reporting to give viewers meaningful insights. He is top news anchor in India. During all these years of reporting, he has maintained a reputation for balanced reporting while covering sensitive political issues.
His interviewing technique is known for being thorough but respectful, enabling him to obtain interviews with challenging sources. He has mentored many young reporters as a senior journalist and influenced the standards of television journalism. His contribution to political journalism helped viewers better understand the democratic process.
With his career spanning over a decade, including incessant stays at IBN7 (the current News18, and as of now functions at News Nation, Awasthi has substantiated his position as a journalist of unassailable fairness.
10. Richa Anirudh
- Employer: Independent journalist, Former IBN7
- Known For: Zindagi Live, Social issues reporting. Anirudh is a sensitive and empathetic news anchor of social issues and human interest stories, rarely reported by mainstream media, in her show “Zindagi Live. She has kept her focus on tales of social imbalance.
- Years Active: 2000-present
- Awards: Laadli Media Award
Through sensitive coverage of social issues and human interest stories, which often do not find mention in mainstream media, Richa Anirudh has carved a niche for herself. The show “Zindagi Live” became a forum for discussing taboo subjects and bringing to the forefront the voices of marginalized communities. She has, time and again, focused on stories that depict social inequalities and inspire positive change in society. She is the top news anchor in India.
Her empathetic interview style has made it possible to discuss sensitive subjects without losing the dignity and respect of her subjects. She remains in touch with her audience, even during a career spanning so many years, through social media and public engagement. Her work has contributed significantly toward making television journalism more socially conscious.
Anirudh has always been driven by stories that address social injustices and nudges for a positive change, he is indeed deeply committed to socially relevant journalism.
11. Rajat Sharma
- Employer: Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of India TV
- Known For: Aap Ki Adalat. Sharma’s “Aap Ki Adalat” is a long-running hit and iconic interview show with a unique courtroom setup where he questions celebrated personalities and in many cases, the answers bring for him bold and open moments and revelations.
- Years Active: 1992-present
- Awards: Padma Bhushan,Indian Television Academy Hall of Fame
Rajat Sharma’s “Aap Ki Adalat” is an institution on Indian television and has been going strong for more than two decades, interviewing virtually every major public figure in the country. The unique courtroom format of his interview has given rise to some of the most unforgettable moments and confessions on television. As the founder of India TV, he has transformed the way news is presented to Hindi-speaking viewers all over the country.
His interviewing style is a combination of tough questioning with a respectful approach that puts guests at ease while maintaining journalistic integrity. He has always maintained high ethical standards throughout his career, building one of India’s largest news networks. His success story from humble beginnings continues to inspire many aspiring journalists.
He is top news anchor in India. As the Chairman & Editor in Chief, India TV, Sharma has been instrumental in charting the trend of Hindi news television, creating India TV into one of the leading news networks of the country with a huge viewership.
12. Shereen Bhan
- Employer: CNBC-TV18
- Known For: Business journalism, Young Turks. Bhan has revitalised business journalism in India with her economical and comprehensive reporting of economic issues and business stories on programmes like “Young Turks” to highlight young entrepreneurs.
- Years Active: 2000-present
- Awards: FICCI Women of the Year, Ramnath Goenka Award
Shereen Bhan is one of India’s most revered and influential business journalists. She specializes in covering the niche and general aspects of economic issues, corporate affairs, and financial markets on CNBC-TV18. Her flagship show, “Young Turks,” has evolved into a premier platform to highlight India’s entrepreneurial accomplishments and exhilarating startup ecosystem and give valuable perspectives on its economic growth.
She has covered important economic events and policy decisions in a way that makes complex financial information accessible to viewers. She brings both technical knowledge and clarity in presentation to the style of interviewing.
She is also considered to be the top news anchor in India. She has a very respectable voice in business journalism. Over her career, she has managed to maintain the best standards of financial reporting despite all the changing economic landscapes. She has really added much value to the financial literacy of Indian viewers.
13. Nidhi Razdan
- Employer: Former NDTV
- Known For: Left, Right & Centre. She is famous for her balanced moderation of political discussions on her show “Left, Right & Centre” and offers valuable views on national issues. Her reporting of major global news has also been commendable.
- Years Active: 1999-present
- Awards: Ramnath Goenka Award, ENBA Award
Nidhi Razdan is the epitome of balanced moderation of political debates, providing great insights. In “Left, Right & Centre,” she presented a balanced approach by engaging the best possible people from across the divide on important national issues facing the country. She covered the major international events and conducted interviews with global leaders of their stature to provide a mature view of Indian news.
A great journalist uses thorough research with a balanced presentation, so she is a trusted source of news and analysis. She has always followed high journalistic standards throughout her career on controversial topics. Her work has shaped how Indian television conducts political debates. Razdan has also reported on major global events and interviewed leading world dignitaries, offering Indian news viewers experienced and intelligent perspective.
14. Rahul Kanwal
- Employer: India Today Group
- Known For: Investigative reporting, election reporting. Kanwal is commended for his reporting on major national happenings including elections and political evolutions. His undercover reporting has many times led to big stories.
- Years Active: 2000-present
- Awards: Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award
Rahul Kanwal has left a mark with comprehensive reporting and investigation on major national events such as elections and political events. His undercover investigative work has broken several important stories that have affected public debate and policy. Rahul Kanwal has made a mark for himself asking the tough question but always asking it in decorum during political interviews.
His approach merges conventional journalism with modern high-tech tools to offer all-around news coverage. Throughout his reporting career, he has not swerved away from fact-reporting, even in his coverage of political issues of such a sensitive nature. His contribution also raises the quality of India’s investigative journalism to higher levels.
15. Punya Prasun Bajpai
- Employer: Former ABP News
- Known for: Master Stroke, investigative reporter. He is one of the widely recognized journalists due to his fearless and critical analysis of government policies and effects on the common public on his show ‘Master Stroke’. How his reporting is often characterised by thorough research and low-key, plain presentation.
- Years Active: 1985-present
- Awards: Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Award
Punya Prasun Bajpai has emerged as a crusading Top News Anchor in India who is always known for fearless reporting and dedication to truth in journalism. His program “Master Stroke” came to be recognized for its critical analysis of the government’s policies and their ramifications on common people. He never compromised his independent voice while presenting sensitive political issues and social problems. He is also the top news anchor in India.
His reportage is marked by meticulous research blended with a presentation that brings such intricate matters before the audience in an easily comprehensible manner. As an established journalist, he has changed the face of investigations in India. He consistently challenged prevailing discourses and made issues relevant to society appear.
Qualities That Define a Top News Anchor
Dedication, skills, and the right ethical platform are the journeys that mark the ways to become a top news anchor in India. This is a result of the defining qualities of some of the best in the business:
- Unimpeachable Credibility and Integrity: The essence of good news anchoring knowing that it is credibility. A top news anchor in India is only considered trustworthy and neutral. Any inaccuracy or perceived sensationalism can damage the trust, kill the audience and the professional reputation. This involves compelling fact-checking, reporting the facts truthfully, and owning it when wrong and being transparent quickly.
- Excellent Communication Skills: An anchor has to be effective and confident in communicating. This involves clear delivery in speech, a firm grasp of the language(s) they profess in and capacity to stratum intricate information in an easy manner to comprehend. They have to reach a wide audience, making their message responsive to a variety of audiences and different levels of understanding.
- Wide and In-Depth Knowledge Base: Leading top news anchor in India is well-read and understands about all the current events, politics, history, economics, culture etc. They have to be aware of the most recent technological developments in related fields to offer context and analysis of the news. This entails ongoing learning, a lot of reading and a real interest in the world.
- Pioneer’s Word: An attractive news anchor can obtain pathways that men and women are interested in, it might generate desired audiences with others. This means being friendly, approachable, and experiencing empathy when dealing with delicate matters, reporting on. They should be able to engross the audience with the story and invite critical thought. This can be done with a conversational approach, asking right questions and taking into account audience views (as and when it is ethical and acceptable).
- Adheres to Ethical Journalism: Following ethical journalism is vital for a leading news anchor. Also involved is acting based on principles of fairness, accuracy, objectivity, and impartiality. They should focus on living lives free from conflicts of interest, pressure free from those outside themselves and free from personal and political agendas and instead prioritize the public’s right to know over personal biases.
Conclusion
Indian top news anchors are more than television broadcasters because they exercise substantial power to form the country’s public dialogue. This article showcases each Top News Anchor in India who brings a unique presentation style to the show, yet shares the common goal of public education and national discourse development.
Their combined expertise and career-long devotion to their profession demonstrate how they greatly affect Indian social life. The entire range of anchor perspectives and focal points independently contributes to building an alert and involved citizenship base.
Which news anchor do you follow the most? Share your views in the comments below! If you’re building a media platform, get in touch with 7k Network – India’s top news portal development company.
FAQs
1. Who is the most popular news anchor in India?
Arnab Goswami is one of the most sought-after news anchors and has highly charged debates on Republic TV.
2. Who among the news anchors received the Ramon Magsaysay Award?
Ravish Kumar has won the Ramon Magsaysay Award for excellence in journalism.
3. Is India’s news anchoring biased?
The reporters take the shape and form of an anchor according to the personal character of the anchor.
4. What is the salary of the top news anchor in India?
It may range between ₹10 lakh per month to ₹1 crore per month, depending upon the experience and the network such an anchor is working for.
5. What is the identity of the most well-known news anchor operating in India?
The Indian public views Arnab Goswami as one of the most well-known and opinionated television news presenters on Republic TV although what constitutes fame in this context remains subjective.
6. Which Indian journalist won the Ramon Magsaysay Award?
Ravish Kumar from NDTV India received the Ramon Magsaysay Award as the Indian journalist who won this prestigious recognition.
7. Is news anchoring in India generally considered biased?
The general perception across India indicates news anchoring shows signs of being biased in style.
Orientation towards bias in news anchoring depends on the personality of the anchor along with their news channel and the viewing perspective of each audience member.
8. What are the standard pay levels that the most renowned TV news anchors earn in India?
The compensation of India’s most popular anchormen spans between ₹10 lakh per month and ₹1 crore per month yet extends further for those at the top of their field.
