10 Women Who Are Redefining Prime-Time News in India
Walk into any Indian household around 8 PM, and chances are a screen is on, and one of these names is on it. Indian news television runs at a relentless pace — loud, fast, and often chaotic — yet a handful of women have managed to build careers on substance rather than noise. Here’s a look at ten anchors who’ve earned their spot in the newsroom.
The Business Beat
Mini Menon built her reputation at Bloomberg India, landing conversations with names like Ratan Tata and Angelina Jolie along the way. Her work didn’t go unnoticed — Impact magazine once placed her among the ten most influential women in Indian media and advertising.
Shereen Bhan runs one of the biggest business news operations in the country as CNBC-TV18’s managing editor and Delhi bureau chief, a post she stepped into back in 2013. The World Economic Forum tapped her as a Young Global Leader, and FICCI handed her its Woman of the Year honour.
Sonia Shenoy has become the voice viewers associate with the opening bell, anchoring shows like Market Mid-day and Power Breakfast. Her interviews with brokers and analysts have made market news genuinely watchable for a mainstream audience.
The Debate Room Regulars
Sweta Singh started as a news editor back in 2001 and has since become an executive editor at Aaj Tak. A Best Sports Program award from the Sports Journalism Federation sits on her shelf, and her prime-time debate segments remain a fixture of Hindi news television.
Rubika Liyaquat made her name asking the questions nobody else would in the room. Since starting out in 2007, she’s worked across News 24 and Zee News before landing at News 18 India, where her composure under pressure has become something of a trademark.
Anjana Om Kashyap has anchored some of Aaj Tak’s most-watched debate segments since joining in 2004. She now fronts the channel’s flagship show, Halla Bol, known for tackling stories that other outlets tend to sidestep.
The Storytellers
Neha Batham has spent close to two decades in the field, moving from Zee Business to Aaj Tak while keeping her signature calm through even the most heated exchanges. She’s also stepped outside hard news to host lighter formats, showing a range that’s rare in the format.
Chitra Tripathi started out at a Doordarshan centre in Gorakhpur before working her way through ETV, News 24, and ABP News. Her programs Dangal and Bullet Reporter have become recognisable names in their own right.
Arpita Arya built her career at IBN7 before moving to Aaj Tak, where she co-anchors Ek Aur Ek Gyarah. Her rise through the ranks reflects how quickly a strong on-air presence can translate into a loyal following.
Romana Isar Khan has worked across CNN-IBN, NDTV, and ABP News, often gravitating toward stories with social weight rather than just headlines. Her reporting has repeatedly put underreported issues in front of a wider audience.
The Common Thread
What ties these anchors together isn’t a look or a style — it’s staying power in an industry that chews through careers fast. Each built a name through fieldwork, editorial judgment, and the ability to hold a room during a live debate, which is a harder skill than it looks from the couch.
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