Umashankar Singh, a veteran journalist and one of NDTV’s longest-serving correspondents, has left the channel after more than 20 years.
He joined in February 2003 and rose to become Senior Editor for Politics and Foreign Affairs. Announcing his departure on social media, Mr Singh described the decision as a move “in a new direction”.
Over nearly three decades in journalism, Mr Singh established a reputation as one of India’s most respected political and foreign correspondents.
He reported from conflict zones including Jammu & Kashmir, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and covered major international crises such as the Turkey earthquake, Sri Lanka’s economic collapse, the war in Ukraine and the latest flare-up between Israel and Hamas.
सूचना
— Umashankar Singh उमाशंकर सिंह (@umashankarsingh) July 23, 2025
मित्रों
मैं एनडीटीवी से इस्तीफ़ा दे चुका हूँ। इस्तीफ़े के तुरंत बाद लिथुआनिया के दौरे पर चला गया था। अपनी तरफ़ से औपचारिक ऐलान के लिए देश लौटने का इंतज़ार कर रहा था। बीती रात लौटा हूँ और आज आप सभी को ये जानकारी दे रहा हूँ।
स्वतंत्र रूप से अपना काम शुरू कर दिया है।…
An early advocate of mobile journalism, he pioneered reporting with smartphones and minimal equipment, a technique he helped promote across the industry.
He also trained younger journalists in the method, combining field rigour with digital adaptability.
Following his departure, Mr Singh has launched a YouTube channel, marking a shift towards independent journalism and platform-based storytelling.
Although NDTV has recently seen several senior exits, his departure stands out for its symbolic weight: few figures shaped the channel’s editorial tone and field coverage as deeply as he did.
With his formal association now ended, Mr Singh enters a new phase — one less bound by institutional constraints and more attuned to digital media’s direct reach.
His record of incisive analysis, field reporting and technological fluency leaves expectations high. In the crowded and often noisy digital space, he may yet help define what senior journalism looks like in a post-broadcast India.
