Prasoon Joshi Appointed Chairman of Prasar Bharati
Ashwini Vaishnaw Says Appointment Will Bring “Renewed Energy and Creative Voice”
In a move aimed at infusing creative depth into India’s public broadcasting ecosystem, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting on Saturday appointed celebrated lyricist, writer and communications strategist Prasoon Joshi as the new Chairman of Prasar Bharati. The appointment was officially announced by the Centre on Saturday evening.
Congratulating him, Union Information & Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said Joshi’s leadership would provide “renewed energy, deeper purpose and a fresh creative voice” to the national broadcaster.
“Prasoon ji is a rare creative spirit celebrated globally in advertising, literature, art and cinema, yet deeply rooted in India’s cultural ethos,” Vaishnaw said in his message.
Joshi’s appointment comes at a crucial time for Prasar Bharati, which is accelerating its digital transformation and repositioning itself amid rapidly evolving audience consumption patterns. The post had fallen vacant following the resignation of former chairman Navneet Kumar Sehgal earlier this year.
A distinguished name in India’s creative and communications industry, Joshi has left a strong imprint across cinema, advertising, literature and public messaging. His acclaimed body of work includes iconic Hindi film songs, national advertising campaigns and several socially driven communication initiatives.
Before this appointment, he was serving as Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification since August 2017. He has also held top global corporate positions including CEO of McCann Worldgroup India and Chairman of McCann Worldgroup Asia Pacific. In addition, he has been a Trustee of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts since 2016.
Known for blending cultural sensitivity with contemporary communication, Joshi is expected to bring a unique public-facing and creative strategy to Prasar Bharati, which oversees Doordarshan and All India Radio.
Media observers believe his appointment signals the government’s intent to make the public broadcaster more content-driven, culturally resonant and digitally competitive in the years ahead.
