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India's newspapers: English, Hindi and regional dailies
The Indian press brings together English-language dailies such as The Times of India and The Hindu, major Hindi titles such as Dainik Jagran, regional-language papers and digital outlets, nearly all of them available online and through apps.
From the Bengal Gazette of Calcutta to the mass press
Hicky's Bengal Gazette, published in Calcutta in 1780, is often cited as the first printed newspaper in Asia. The Times of India was born in Bombay in 1838 and The Hindu in Madras in 1878, two titles that later accompanied the independence struggle.
The major English-language dailies and their editorial lines
The Times of India claims the widest circulation in English, with a popular tone. The Hindu, based in Chennai, favours sober analysis, The Indian Express is known for its investigations and the Hindustan Times remains widely read in the north, around New Delhi.
Why do Hindi newspapers carry so much weight?
By readership, Hindi titles dominate: Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhaskar and Amar Ujala publish dozens of local editions in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Their websites and apps also target readers in smaller towns across the Hindi-speaking belt.
A mosaic of regional presses
The Constitution recognises twenty-two languages, each with its own press: Malayala Manorama and Mathrubhumi in Kerala, Anandabazar Patrika in Bengal, Eenadu in Telugu, Lokmat in Marathi and Daily Thanthi in Tamil. The Deccan Herald covers Bangalore and Karnataka in English.
Scroll, The Wire, ThePrint: born-digital media
Since the 2010s, digital-native outlets such as Scroll.in, The Wire, ThePrint and The Quint have offered reporting and analysis. Newslaundry, which critiques the media, relies on reader subscriptions rather than advertising, a model that is still rare in India.
PTI and the other news agencies
The Press Trust of India, a cooperative founded in 1947, supplies most of the wire copy used by newspapers. Asian News International, strong in video, and the IANS agency complete the picture. Most titles credit their short news items with the agency's initials.
Doordarshan and All India Radio, the public broadcasters
Prasar Bharati groups Doordarshan television and All India Radio, also known as Akashvani. DD News and radio bulletins in many languages are available by streaming, alongside private news channels that draw large audiences in English and Hindi.
Keeping up with the Indian diaspora
More than thirty million people of Indian origin live outside the country. In the Gulf, dailies such as Khaleej Times in Dubai give them extensive coverage, and the major Indian titles run dedicated NRI sections for non-resident Indians.
Economic Times, Mint and the sports pages
The Economic Times, part of the Times group, Mint and Business Standard cover the Mumbai markets, the stock exchange and economic policy. In sport, cricket overshadows everything: Sportstar, from The Hindu group, and specialist sections follow the national team and the IPL.
Press Council, censorship and media freedom debates
The Press Council of India, set up in 1966, reviews complaints about journalistic ethics. The Emergency of 1975 to 1977 remains the major episode of censorship. Current debates focus on media concentration, regional internet shutdowns and digital rules.
Paywalls and French-language traces
The Hindu, The Indian Express and Mint reserve part of their articles for subscribers. India has little French-language press, apart from the former trading post of Pondicherry, where the Alliance française and a few newsletters keep the language alive.
Cross-checking sources with neighbouring countries
On Kashmir or the borders, comparing an Indian daily with the Pakistani press or the Chinese press reveals gaps between narratives. The page on Asian newspapers online helps broaden the regional picture.
How to follow Indian news from abroad
- Pick a reference English-language daily, such as The Hindu or The Indian Express, and read it every morning.
- Add a born-digital site, Scroll.in or ThePrint, for in-depth analysis and long-form reporting.
- Follow Press Trust of India wire stories for official announcements and election results.
- Listen to All India Radio or watch DD News by streaming for public-service bulletins.
- Read at least one regional-language title, with a translation tool if needed, to follow state politics.
- Allow for Indian Standard Time, UTC+5:30, when following live coverage and results announcements.
Access and subscriptions for the Indian press
| Media type | Access | Note |
|---|---|---|
| The Times of India, Hindustan Times | Largely free | Paid premium content, heavy advertising |
| The Hindu, Indian Express, Mint | Paid subscription, variable price | Free article quota depending on the title |
| Digital natives (Scroll, The Wire, Newslaundry) | Free or membership | Reader-supported, indicative offers |
| E-papers of Hindi dailies | Often free | Local editions viewable page by page |
| Doordarshan and All India Radio | Free streaming | Official public-service apps |
Key facts for reading Indian newspapers
- Languages: English and Hindi, plus twenty-two languages recognised by the Constitution
- Main agency: Press Trust of India (PTI); others: ANI and IANS
- Public broadcasting: Prasar Bharati, with Doordarshan and All India Radio
- Reference dailies: The Times of India, The Hindu; in Hindi: Dainik Jagran
- Business: The Economic Times and Mint; sport: Sportstar
- Time zone: IST, UTC+5:30, no daylight saving; currency: Indian rupee (INR)
Pitfalls to avoid with Indian media
- Confusing figures in lakhs and crores with millions: one crore equals ten million, and one lakh equals one hundred thousand.
- Sharing a viral WhatsApp video without checking it, when misinformation spreads widely there during elections and communal tensions.
- Mistaking an Indian satirical site for a serious outlet, as its parody headlines are sometimes taken literally on social media.
- Judging the whole Indian press by its English-language titles alone, which represent only part of the country's readership.
- Overlooking that one local edition of a newspaper may treat a story very differently from another regional edition.
Your questions about the press in India
Which Indian newspaper should I read in English to start with?
The Hindu suits readers who want a measured tone and analysis, The Indian Express those looking for investigations, and The Times of India gives a very broad overview of the news. All three offer full websites and apps.
Can Hindi newspapers be read from abroad?
Yes, Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhaskar and Amar Ujala have websites, apps and often a free e-paper. Reading them requires knowing the Devanagari script, but machine translation tools make it possible to grasp the essentials.
How can I follow Indian elections live?
Official results are published by the Election Commission of India. Major dailies and news channels run live coverage, and the Press Trust of India reports trends by constituency, which are best followed with the time difference in mind.
Is there an Indian press in French?
It remains marginal. Pondicherry, a French trading post until 1954, retains a francophone cultural presence, but most news about India comes in English, in Indian languages or from French media correspondents based in New Delhi.