Navneet Sehgal quits as Prasar Bharati chief before term expiry

Navneet Kumar Sehgal has stepped down as chairman of Prasar Bharati, a year and a half into his three-year tenure. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has accepted his resignation and formally relieved him of his duties.

A ministry communication stated that Sehgal submitted his resignation on Tuesday.

Sehgal, a 1988-batch IAS officer from the Uttar Pradesh cadre, was appointed to the post in March 2024. His appointment came after a three-year vacancy at the top within the state broadcaster and just weeks before the Lok Sabha elections. The last chairman, A Surya Prakash, completed his term in February 2020. 

The Prasar Bharati website notes that Sehgal has more than 35 years of experience heading major departments and driving policy reforms at both the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh. It highlights his “distinguished career” across state and central roles.

Before joining Prasar Bharati, Sehgal served as principal secretary for the Uttar Pradesh government’s public relations and sports departments, and is known to have close ties with industrialists, actors, and sports bodies. He reportedly also worked in proximity to the Prime Minister’s Office.

Sehgal was chosen by a three-member selection committee headed by then Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, along with Press Council of India chairperson Ranjana Prakash Desai and a presidential nominee.

Newslaundry has earlier reported on changes within DD News under Sehgal’s tenure. From the saffron logo in April 2024 to shows being outsourced.