Navneet Kumar Sehgal has stepped down as Chairman of Prasar Bharati, resigning just nine months into his three-year appointment and leaving over a year of his term unserved.
Sehgal tendered his resignation on December 2, and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting formally accepted it the following day. He has been relieved of his responsibilities with immediate effect.
A retired IAS officer from the 1988 Uttar Pradesh cadre, Sehgal took charge of the Prasar Bharati Board on March 16, 2024, ending a vacancy that had persisted for more than four years. His term was scheduled to conclude in March 2027. The ministry confirmed the acceptance of his resignation under Section 7(6) of the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1990.
Neither Sehgal nor the ministry has offered any explanation for his sudden exit, prompting widespread speculation across media circles about what may have prompted the decision.
Before joining Prasar Bharati, Sehgal served the Uttar Pradesh government for 35 years, retiring in July 2023 as Additional Chief Secretary. Throughout his career, he oversaw a wide range of departments including information and public relations, finance, industry, law and order, land administration, tourism, MSME, information, and energy.
The ministry’s acceptance notice was shared with key officials including the CEO of Prasar Bharati, the Principal Secretary to the Vice President, the Principal Secretary to the Information and Broadcasting Minister, and the Chairperson of the Press Council of India.
No details have yet been announced regarding an interim chairperson or the timeline for appointing a successor, and the broadcaster now awaits clarity on the next steps in its leadership transition.
Read more:
