Rahul Kanwal Quits India Today, Set to Join NDTV?
After over two decades with the India Today Group, senior journalist and anchor Rahul Kanwal has stepped down from his role as News Director of TVTN and Executive Director of Business Today. His resignation was formally announced by India Today Group’s Vice Chairperson Kalli Purie in an internal email on Thursday, bringing an end to a 22-year-long tenure that shaped Kanwal’s identity as one of Indian television’s most recognisable faces.
While Kanwal has not publicly confirmed his next move, industry speculation suggests he is poised to join NDTV in a top editorial capacity. Reports indicate he may be appointed Group Editor with a seat on the NDTV board, although the network has yet to officially comment.
In a heartfelt resignation letter addressed to Purie, titled “Resigning with a heavy heart”, Kanwal reflected on his journey, stating, “It’s a testament to the vibrancy of this great institution that a curious young journalist like me found professional fulfilment and growth year after year.” He expressed admiration for Purie’s leadership and described her father, Aroon Purie, as “much more than a boss – he’s been a mentor, a guide, a lodestar.”
His departure closely follows that of Shiv Aroor, who joined NDTV as Managing Editor just a day prior. Aroor, who had been with India Today for 18 years, also cited excitement over “building something special” at NDTV. Their exits mark the latest in a series of high-profile shifts to NDTV following the Adani Group’s acquisition in 2022—a development that led to the departure of prominent names including Ravish Kumar, Sreenivasan Jain, and Nidhi Razdan.
Kanwal, known for hosting Newstrack and Jab We Met, has been a defining face of India Today’s political and defence coverage. A Chevening Scholar and Cardiff University alumnus, he has won multiple awards for his journalism and played a leading role in launching initiatives like the Anti-Fake News War Room (AFWA) and the Open Source Intelligence Desk (OSINT).
His potential arrival at NDTV is seen as part of a broader editorial reshaping of the network, with others like Sumit Awasthi and Marya Shakil also joining from rival channels in the past year after Adani takeover. Should Kanwal formally join, it would signal NDTV’s continued bid to consolidate editorial firepower under the Adani banner. NDTV’s long serving Editorial Director Sonia Singh had quit the network recently.
While Kanwal did not respond to media queries about his next steps, his resignation letter struck an emotional tone: “This decision has not been easy, but I wish that even when I’m no longer on the newsroom floor, you will hold warmth in your heart and goodwill in your mind.”
Observers say the exodus of senior talent from India Today to NDTV may not be coincidental. NDTV, now a subsidiary of AMG Media Networks under the Adani Group, recently named Purva Misra as its Chief People Officer. Misra, who previously served as Chief Human Resources Officer at India Today Group and COO of India Today Media Institute, is the daughter of Nripendra Misra, a close confidant of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his former Principal Secretary.
