Rubika Liyaquat is an Indian television journalist and prime-time news anchor known for her outspoken debate-show hosting on Hindi news channels. She built her name anchoring flagship prime-time shows on ABP News and News18 India, and in September 2026 she made fresh headlines after abruptly exiting Times Now Navbharat just over three months into the job. This Rubika Liyaquat biography covers her age, education, career timeline, and the controversies that have followed her two-decade run in Indian broadcast news.
Quick Facts
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Rubika Liyaquat |
| Date of Birth | April 18, 1983 |
| Age | 43 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Udaipur, Rajasthan, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Islam (Muslim) |
| Education | Mumbai University (Bachelor’s, Mass Media/Journalism); Futuristic Media Communication Centre (FMCC), Noida |
| Profession | TV Journalist, News Anchor, Editor |
| Known For | Taal Thok Ke, Master Stroke, Goonj with Rubika Liyaquat, News Ki Pathshala |
| Spouse | Naved Qureshi (journalist) |
| @imrubikaliyaquat (~784K followers, Aug 2026) |
Who Is Rubika Liyaquat?
Rubika Liyaquat is one of Hindi television’s most recognized prime-time news anchors, known for a direct, confrontational interviewing style on political debate shows. Over roughly two decades in broadcast journalism she has anchored at several of India’s biggest Hindi news networks, building a large personal following independent of any single channel.
She is also a polarizing figure. Supporters describe her as a fearless, patriotic voice; critics and opposition politicians have repeatedly accused her of nationalist bias, and her broadcasts have drawn scrutiny from India’s news standards regulator.
Early Life & Family
Liyaquat was born on April 18, 1983, in Udaipur, Rajasthan. She has spoken publicly about her attachment to her hometown, describing Udaipur as central to her identity.
She is reported to be married to Naved Qureshi, also a journalist, and the couple reportedly has children.
Education
Liyaquat completed her schooling at St. Gregorios Senior Secondary School in Udaipur before moving to Mumbai, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Media/Journalism from the University of Mumbai. She subsequently trained in broadcast journalism at the Futuristic Media Communication Centre (FMCC) in Noida.
Career
Early Career (2007–2017)
Liyaquat began her television career in June 2007 with Live India, staying until September 2008. She then moved to News24 as an anchor, followed by stints at Zee News and, according to some industry profiles, Aaj Tak, where she built experience in both reporting and prime-time anchoring.
ABP News Years (2018–2023)
In 2018, Liyaquat joined ABP News, where she became one of the channel’s most recognized faces, anchoring the prime-time shows Taal Thok Ke and Master Stroke. This five-year stint is widely regarded as the period that made her a national name in Hindi news television. She left ABP News in June 2023.
Bharat24 and Brief Transition (2023)
After ABP News, Liyaquat joined Bharat24 as Vice President in June 2023, also launching efforts toward an independent YouTube channel. She exited Bharat24 in December 2023 after roughly six months, with industry reports at the time citing unconfirmed interest from NDTV — a move that reportedly did not materialize.
News18 India (Consulting Editor)
By 2025, Liyaquat had joined Network18 as Consulting Editor, anchoring the debate show Goonj with Rubika Liyaquat. In January 2025, this show became the subject of a regulatory censure (detailed in the Controversies section below). She exited News18 India in May 2026.
Times Now Navbharat (2026)
Liyaquat joined Times Now Navbharat on June 11, 2026, as Senior Executive Editor – TNNB and Vice President – Special Projects, taking over the prime-time show News Ki Pathshala from outgoing anchor Sushant Sinha. Her tenure there lasted just over three months.
Rubika Liyaquat in 2026
2026 has been an eventful year for Liyaquat. In May, she exited News18 India after her Goonj with Rubika Liyaquat show was censured by India’s broadcast regulator over a report tied to a high-profile political corruption case. She then joined Times Now Navbharat in June to host News Ki Pathshala, but as of late September 2026, she has stepped down from that role after only around three months — a departure confirmed by industry trade press but without an official public reason given by either party as of this writing.
Controversies
Liyaquat’s confrontational anchoring style has repeatedly drawn controversy:
Smriti Irani/Lalu Prasad Yadav remarks (2019): During an ABP News debate, Liyaquat was criticized after incorrectly referencing an academic degree for politician Smriti Irani and appearing to join in mocking jailed politician Lalu Prasad Yadav. This drew a public rebuke from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which accused her of partisan bias.
NBDSA censure (January 2025): India’s News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA), chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice A.K. Sikri, censured News18 India and Liyaquat over a broadcast of Goonj with Rubika Liyaquat that discussed the arrest of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi excise policy case. The regulator ruled the broadcast attributed guilt before a court verdict, violating neutrality and impartiality guidelines, and ordered the channel to remove the offending portions. News18 India disputed that the broadcast implied guilt.
Debunked viral video (February 2026): A widely circulated clip claimed a Pakistani man had humiliated Liyaquat during a live TV debate. Fact-checkers at CyberPeace found the video had been edited from unrelated November 2025 footage and that the alleged individual was not present in the original broadcast — the claim was rated misleading.
Israel-Iran remarks (2026): A clip from one of her debate shows drew criticism after she reportedly compared an Israeli strike on a girls’ school in Minab, Iran, to Tehran’s hijab enforcement laws, a comparison that outlets described as sparking outrage online.
Throughout these episodes, Liyaquat has been publicly labeled by supporters as a patriotic, fearless anchor, while opposition politicians and some media watchdogs have characterized her coverage as favoring the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This article presents both characterizations without endorsing either.
Personal Life
Liyaquat keeps most of her personal life away from the media, focusing her public profile on her professional work and political commentary. She is reported to be married to fellow journalist Naved Qureshi.
Career Timeline
| Year | Channel/Role |
|---|---|
| 2007–2008 | Live India |
| 2008 | News24 |
| — | Zee News, Aaj Tak (stints) |
| 2018–2023 | ABP News — Taal Thok Ke, Master Stroke |
| 2023 | Bharat24 — Vice President |
| 2025–2026 | News18 India — Consulting Editor, Goonj with Rubika Liyaquat |
| June–Sept 2026 | Times Now Navbharat — Senior Executive Editor, News Ki Pathshala |
FAQs
Q1: What is Rubika Liyaquat’s age?
She was born on April 18, 1983, making her 43 years old as of 2026.
Q2: Who is Rubika Liyaquat’s husband?
She is reported to be married to journalist Naved Qureshi, though full details are not confirmed by major outlets.
Q3: Where is Rubika Liyaquat from?
She was born and raised in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.
Q4: Which channel does Rubika Liyaquat work for now?
As of late September 2026, she has exited Times Now Navbharat after a roughly three-month stint; her next role had not been publicly confirmed at the time of writing.
Q5: Why did Rubika Liyaquat leave News18 India?
She departed in May 2026 following a January 2025 regulatory censure of her show over its coverage of the Arvind Kejriwal case, though no single reason for her exit was officially confirmed.
Q6: What is Rubika Liyaquat’s net worth?
Some entertainment sites estimate her net worth in the range of ₹2–10 crore, but this figure is not verified by a credible financial source and should be treated as a rough, unconfirmed estimate.
Q7: Is Rubika Liyaquat considered pro-BJP?
She has faced repeated accusations of bias toward the Bharatiya Janata Party from opposition politicians and some watchdogs, which she and her employers have disputed; this remains a matter of public debate rather than settled fact.
Last updated: September 2026
