Rahul Kanwal is an Indian television journalist and media executive who has been CEO and Editor-in-Chief of NDTV since May 2025. This Rahul Kanwal biography covers his career, which spans more than two decades at the India Today Group, where he was the face of the prime-time show Newstrack. Most recently, he hosted the NDTV World Summit 2026 in New Delhi on 22–23 October 2026.
Rahul Kanwal Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Rahul Kanwal |
| Date of Birth | 14 September 1980 |
| Age | 46 years (as of October 2026) |
| Birthplace | Deolali, Maharashtra, per most profiles; Wikipedia lists Patna, Bihar |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Reported as Sikh in one profile; not confirmed by Kanwal himself |
| Education | Delhi University (journalism); Cardiff University (International Broadcast Journalism); Harvard Business School General Management Programme |
| Profession | Journalist, TV news anchor, media executive |
| Known For | Newstrack, Jab We Met, Aaj Tak/India Today leadership, NDTV CEO |
| Current Role | CEO and Editor-in-Chief, NDTV |
| Spouse | Jasleen Dhanota, reported by secondary profiles |
| Social Handle | @rahulkanwal on X |
Who Is Rahul Kanwal?
Rahul Kanwal is one of the best-known faces of Indian English and Hindi television news. For more than two decades he worked at the TV Today Network (Aaj Tak and India Today). There he rose from reporter-anchor to News Director, running newsrooms and fronting election coverage, interviews and primetime debates.
In 2025 he left India Today and joined NDTV, which the Adani Group acquired in 2022. The move made him one of the most prominent editors in a network still adjusting to new ownership. His supporters point to his reporting from conflict zones, his newsroom leadership and his work on misinformation. His critics point to a series of on-air disputes and corrections.
Early Life and Family
Rahul Kanwal was born on 14 September 1980. Most biographical profiles and the India Today Group’s own announcement say he was born in Deolali, Maharashtra, a town with a large Army presence. Wikipedia’s infobox says Patna, Bihar. Because sources conflict, this article does not treat either as settled.
His father, Gurmeet Kanwal, was a former Army officer who became a defence analyst. His mother, Neelu Kanwal, reportedly worked at Mount Carmel School in New Delhi. Profiles also name a brother, Manav Kanwal, who works in the United States.
Education
Kanwal attended Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan, in New Delhi, and St. Joseph’s College in Allahabad (now Prayagraj). He then studied journalism at Delhi University.
He later became a Chevening Scholar and completed a programme in International Broadcast Journalism at Cardiff University. He also received a Rory Peck Trust grant to train in hostile-environment journalism, and he is an alumnus of Harvard Business School’s General Management Programme. In 2026, Cardiff University reportedly awarded him an Honorary Fellowship.
Rahul Kanwal Career
Early Career at Zee News (1999–2002)
Kanwal began his career in 1999 as a reporter and anchor at Zee News and Zee Business.
Aaj Tak and India Today (2002–2025)
He joined Aaj Tak in 2002 and spent more than 22 years with the India Today Group. He became Editor-at-Large and, in July 2018, was promoted to News Director alongside Supriya Prasad. Over the years he held leadership roles across Aaj Tak, India Today and Business Today, where he was Executive Director.
On television he anchored the weekday primetime show Newstrack and the interview series Jab We Met. He also founded the group’s Anti-Fake News War Room (AFWA) and an Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) desk, aimed at tracking misinformation and building data-led journalism.
Leaving India Today (2025)
On 3 April 2025, the group’s vice chairperson, Kalli Purie, announced that Kanwal would be moving on “to explore new opportunities” after more than 22 years. His tenure ended on 23 May 2025. The announcement did not give a reason for his departure.
NDTV CEO and Editor-in-Chief (2025–present)
Kanwal joined NDTV as Editor-in-Chief and CEO effective 26 May 2025. His arrival followed that of Shiv Aroor, who joined as managing editor weeks earlier. NDTV has since relaunched its legacy interview format Walk the Talk with Kanwal as host.
Under his leadership NDTV has hosted its annual World Summit. The 2025 edition was held on 17–18 October. The third edition, themed “A World Between Orders,” ran on 22–23 October 2026 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi headlining.
Roles and Shows at a Glance
| Period | Organisation | Role / Show |
|---|---|---|
| 1999–2002 | Zee News / Zee Business | Reporter-anchor |
| 2002–2025 | Aaj Tak / India Today | Editor-at-Large, later News Director |
| 2002–2025 | India Today | Anchor, Newstrack |
| 2002–2025 | India Today | Host, Jab We Met |
| Until 2025 | Business Today | Executive Director |
| 2025–present | NDTV | CEO and Editor-in-Chief |
Awards and Recognition
- 2013: Best Anchor at the Indian Television Academy Awards, per Wikipedia.
- 2016: National annual award from the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation.
- 2019: Best Anchor at the Exchange4media News Broadcasting Awards.
- 2026: Honorary Fellowship from Cardiff University, as reported by trade media.
Rahul Kanwal Controversies
Like many prominent news anchors, Kanwal has faced public criticism over specific broadcasts. The documented episodes are below, with responses where they exist.
Balakot interview (2019). In March 2019 he questioned Union Minister Piyush Goyal on the Balakot air strikes. The exchange circulated widely, with some viewers praising his questioning and others criticising it. Reports quoted Kanwal telling the minister he did not need a lesson in nationalism.
Chhattisgarh simulation (2018). Kanwal was criticised over an on-air depiction of a clash between CRPF personnel and Maoist insurgents.
Supreme Court apology (2018). In a case brought by Brigadier P.K. Tikoo over a 2010 telecast, Kanwal agreed before the Supreme Court to tender an unconditional apology, to be aired on India Today in February 2018.
JNU sting (2020). In January 2020, India Today aired an undercover investigation into the violence at Jawaharlal Nehru University. A dispute followed over how one student featured in the sting had been described, including a photograph Kanwal shared. Some outlets said the student’s ABVP association was not established by the channel, while Alt News reportedly established it independently. The ABVP rejected the characterisation.
Corrections and apologies (2021). The Shiv Sena demanded an apology after Kanwal wrongly linked it to a threat against Serum Institute chief Adar Poonawalla; he acknowledged the error on Twitter. In June 2021 he apologised for a remark about electricity cuts that appeared to conflate Delhi with India.
Pre-recorded segments (2023–2024). Newslaundry reported complaints that pre-recorded interviews were aired within debate formats. In October 2024, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said an interview she gave was presented misleadingly as a debate.
NDTV leadership (2026). A March 2026 report by The News Minute argued that NDTV under Kanwal had become louder and more communally charged, and was losing money. It also noted that some journalists said things had improved under him. NDTV has its own account of its performance, so readers should consult primary sources.
Personal Life
Kanwal’s wife is reported by secondary profiles to be Jasleen Dhanota, described as a communications consultant. This has not been confirmed in an interview or official statement that I could find. He is also described as an avid sports player, including golf, squash, badminton and cricket.
Kanwal has not published a verified net worth. One low-quality site claims a figure so large it is not credible, so this article does not repeat it.
Rahul Kanwal in 2026
In 2026 Kanwal remains CEO and Editor-in-Chief of NDTV. In October he fronted the NDTV World Summit, which covered geopolitics, AI, cybersecurity and economic competitiveness. Earlier in the year he said AI-driven content discovery was reducing traffic to news sites worldwide, in comments on NDTV.com’s digital performance. His 2026 profile also includes the Cardiff honour and the Walk the Talk relaunch.
Rahul Kanwal FAQs
Who is Rahul Kanwal?
He is an Indian journalist and TV anchor who serves as CEO and Editor-in-Chief of NDTV. He previously served as News Director at the India Today Group.
How old is Rahul Kanwal?
He was born on 14 September 1980, so he is 46 as of October 2026.
Who is Rahul Kanwal’s wife?
Secondary sources name her as Jasleen Dhanota, but this has not been confirmed in an official statement or interview.
Why did Rahul Kanwal leave India Today?
The group said only that he was moving on to “explore new opportunities” after more than 22 years. He joined NDTV on 26 May 2025.
Where did Rahul Kanwal study?
He studied journalism at Delhi University, completed a course at Cardiff University as a Chevening Scholar, and attended Harvard Business School’s General Management Programme.
What is Rahul Kanwal’s net worth?
There is no verified figure. Estimates online are unreliable.
Last updated: October 2026
