Jagran Prakashan

Jagran Prakashan Limited is an Indian media company whose principal business is the publication and distribution of newspapers and other print products. It is best known for Dainik Jagran, a major Hindi-language daily newspaper founded in 1942 and subsequently expanded across northern and central India. The company also operates or has operated magazine, radio, digital-media, outdoor-advertising, event-management and activation businesses. The corporate entity was incorporated on 18 July 1975 as Jagran Prakashan Private Limited. Its corporate form changed several times as Indian company law and shareholder arrangements evolved: it became a deemed public company, retained public-company status after a 2000 shareholder resolution, converted back to a private company in 2004, and returned to public-company status in November 2005 in connection with an issue of securities. The company changed its name to Jagran Prakashan Limited in 1989. Jagran's publishing portfolio has included Dainik Jagran, iNext, Mid-Day, Nai Dunia, Mid-Day Gujarati, Inquilab, Sakhi, Punjabi Jagran and Jagran Josh. Its digital interests have included Jagran New Media and websites such as Jagran.com, JagranJosh.com, Jagran Post and Jagran Junction. The group has also developed non-print activities, including Radio City, outdoor advertising and event-related services. In 2010 it acquired the print business of Mumbai-based Mid-Day Multimedia, and it later acquired control of the Nai Dunia publishing business through Suvi Info Management and its subsidiary Nai Dunia Media. The company has published multiple editions across Indian states and languages. Dainik Jagran remains its principal flagship, while Radio City represents its broadcast-radio presence. In 2019, Radio City obtained 40 stations from Big FM under a Ministry of Information and Broadcasting grant-of-permission arrangement and operated additional stations, although regulatory and market conditions prevented the acquisition of all remaining stations associated with the transaction. Jagran Prakashan and its publications have also attracted sustained scrutiny over editorial impartiality, political coverage, paid-news allegations and election-related reporting. The Press Council of India censured Dainik Jagran in 1990 over inflammatory reporting following the demolition of the Babri Masjid and later flagged the newspaper in connection with paid-news concerns. In 2017, publication of an exit poll before the permitted time led the Election Commission to direct registration of a police case; an online editor was arrested and subsequently released on bail. The group has denied that employees had authority to make political-content commitments alleged in a 2018 Cobrapost investigation. These controversies form part of the public record surrounding the company's role in Indian news media.

Jagran Prakashan's corporate history is rooted in the expansion of Dainik Jagran, a Hindi newspaper established in 1942 during the period of the Quit India Movement. The publication was associated with Puran Chandra Gupta, J. C. Arya and Gurudev, who presented it as a newspaper intended to express public opinion and the ideal of free will. Its first edition appeared in Jhansi. A Kanpur edition followed in 1947, with editions in Rewa and Bhopal added in 1953 and 1956. The newspaper subsequently expanded through numerous editions across northern India. The corporate company was incorporated on 18 July 1975 as Jagran Prakashan Private Limited. A lease arrangement in the same period enabled the acquisition of plant and machinery for newspaper and magazine production. The Lucknow edition of Dainik Jagran began in 1979 and the Agra edition in 1986. On 1 April 1989, the company adopted the name Jagran Prakashan Limited. Its legal status changed in response to company-law amendments and shareholder arrangements. It became a deemed public limited company, chose to retain public-company status following a shareholder resolution of 31 August 2000, converted into a private limited company in 2004, and was converted again into a public limited company on 23 November 2005 following a resolution connected with a securities issue. Jagran Prakashan is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange. Over time, the company broadened beyond its core Hindi daily. Its print portfolio came to include English, Urdu, Punjabi, Gujarati and other products, including iNext, Mid-Day, Mid-Day Gujarati, Inquilab, Sakhi, Punjabi Jagran, Nai Dunia and Jagran Josh. In 2010, it acquired the print business of Mid-Day Multimedia, the Mumbai publisher associated with the Mumbai-based English afternoon daily Mid-Day. It also acquired the Nai Dunia business through Suvi Info Management and its subsidiary Nai Dunia Media, strengthening its presence in Madhya Pradesh and neighboring markets. The group diversified into digital media, radio, outdoor advertising, event management and activation services. Its digital properties have included Jagran New Media, Jagran.com, JagranJosh.com, Jagran Post and Jagran Junction. Radio City became a major radio-network asset; in 2019 it acquired 40 stations from Big FM through a government grant-of-permission arrangement and continued operating additional stations. The company's public profile has been shaped not only by expansion but also by disputes over news judgment and political neutrality. The Press Council of India censured Dainik Jagran in 1990 for inflammatory content following the demolition of the Babri Masjid. In 2010, the publication was among newspapers cited in a Press Council review of paid news. In 2017, publication of an Uttar Pradesh exit poll before the legally permitted period resulted in an Election Commission-directed police case, office searches and the arrest of online editor Shekhar Tripathi. Subsequent commentary by media watchdogs and investigative outlets criticized what they described as pro-Bharatiya Janata Party coverage and links between government advertising and editorial positioning. The company has rejected or disputed aspects of these allegations. In 2025, Jagran announced a revamp of its English digital news presence under TheDailyJagran.com.

1. 2025English digital news revamp announced

   Jagran announces the repositioning of its English news subdomain as TheDailyJagran.com.

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2. 2019Radio City expands its station network

   Radio City acquires 40 stations from Big FM under a government permission arrangement.

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3. 2010Mid-Day print business acquired

   Jagran acquires the print business of Mid-Day Multimedia.

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4. 1989Corporate name changes

   The company changes its name from Jagran Prakashan Private Limited to Jagran Prakashan Limited.

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5. 1986Agra edition launches

   Dainik Jagran expands into Agra.

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6. 1979Lucknow edition launches

   The company publishes the Lucknow edition of Dainik Jagran.

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7. 1975Jagran Prakashan is incorporated

   Jagran Prakashan Private Limited is incorporated on 18 July.

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8. 1947Kanpur edition begins

   Dainik Jagran launches an edition in Kanpur.

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9. 1942Dainik Jagran is founded

   The first Dainik Jagran edition is published in Jhansi during the Quit India Movement period.

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A mass-market Indian media group built around regional-language newspaper publishing, with additional radio, digital, advertising and event businesses.

• Dainik JagranHindi daily newspaper1942

  Jagran Prakashan's flagship Hindi newspaper. It began in Jhansi in 1942 and expanded through editions in Kanpur, Rewa, Bhopal, Lucknow, Agra, Delhi and other markets. Its coverage includes national and regional politics, business, sports and general news, and it has been described as one of India's most widely read Hindi newspapers.

• Nai DuniaHindi daily newspaper

  A Hindi newspaper originating in Madhya Pradesh. Jagran acquired the operating business through Suvi Info Management and Nai Dunia Media, giving the group a stronger presence in central India.

• Mid-DayEnglish afternoon newspaper

  A Mumbai-based English afternoon daily whose print business was acquired by Jagran from Mid-Day Multimedia in 2010. It broadened the group's portfolio beyond Hindi and regional-language newspaper publishing.

• Punjabi JagranPunjabi daily newspaper

  A Punjabi-language daily with editions covering markets including Amritsar, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Doaba, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Malwa and Patiala.

• Radio CityFM radio network

  Jagran's radio-network business, operating stations in Indian cities. In 2019 it acquired 40 stations from Big FM under a Ministry of Information and Broadcasting grant-of-permission arrangement and operated additional stations.

• Jagran JoshDigital education and information platform

  A Jagran digital-media brand focused on information and educational or examination-related content, operating alongside the group's broader online news properties.

• Jagran New MediaDigital media

  The group's digital-media business encompassing online news, information and content properties including Jagran.com and related platforms.

• 2025Revamp English digital news presenceProduct launch

  Jagran was reorganizing its English-language online news offering.

  What changed. The company announced a revamp of Dainik Jagran's English news subdomain under TheDailyJagran.com.

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• 2019Expand Radio City through Big FM stationsM&A

  The radio business was pursuing additional frequency and city coverage under government broadcasting permissions.

  What changed. Radio City acquired 40 stations from Big FM under a Grant of Permission Agreement.

  Aftermath. Radio City expanded its operating network, although it did not acquire all remaining stations associated with the transaction.

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• 2010Acquire Mid-Day print businessM&A

  Jagran sought to expand its print portfolio into Mumbai and English-language publishing.

  What changed. The company acquired the print business of Mid-Day Multimedia.

  Aftermath. Mid-Day became part of Jagran's newspaper portfolio.

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• 2018Cobrapost political-content investigationControversy

  Cobrapost released recordings purporting to show employees of media organizations, including the Jagran Group, discussing paid promotion of Hindutva and Bharatiya Janata Party-related content. CEO Sanjay Gupta denied that the employee shown had authority to bind the group.

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• 2017Premature publication of Uttar Pradesh exit pollControversy

  Dainik Jagran published an exit poll before election results were declared, contrary to Election Commission rules. A police case was ordered, offices and homes were searched, and online editor Shekhar Tripathi was arrested and later granted bail. The group said the item had been placed by its advertising department for compensation.

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• 2010Paid-news allegationsControversy

  The Press Council of India flagged Dainik Jagran among newspapers associated with paid-news concerns.

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• 1990Press Council censure after Babri Masjid demolition coverageControversy

  The Press Council of India censured Dainik Jagran over what it considered inflammatory reporting following the demolition of the Babri Masjid. Contemporary criticism also focused on disputed casualty reporting and the newspaper's advocacy of a Ram Mandir at the site.

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• 2025Jagran announces a revamp of its English news subdomain

  The company announced that Dainik Jagran's English news subdomain would be relaunched or repositioned as TheDailyJagran.com.

  Product launch
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• 2020Sanjay Gupta joins Prasar Bharati board

  Sanjay Gupta was added to the board of Prasar Bharati, India's public broadcasting organization.

  Leadership change
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• 2019Radio City acquires 40 Big FM stations

  Radio City obtained 40 stations under a Ministry of Information and Broadcasting grant-of-permission arrangement, while continuing to operate other stations.

  M&A
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• 2010Jagran acquires Mid-Day print business

  Jagran acquired the print business of Mumbai-based Mid-Day Multimedia, bringing the Mid-Day newspaper operation into its portfolio.

  M&A
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1. Jagran Prakashan