New Delhi: Senior Indian Information Service (IIS) officer Mamta Verma, a 1994-batch officer, has been promoted to Selection Grade and appointed as the Director General (News) of Doordarshan.
Ms Verma had earlier been serving as Additional Director General (ADG), DD News, while also holding the additional charge of Director General. Her latest elevation formally places her at the helm of Doordarshan News.
The appointment comes after she spent several months overseeing DD News operations, following her repatriation from the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
Mamta Verma’s Journey to DG (News), Doordarshan
Verma’s transition to the top post at DD News followed a series of administrative changes beginning at the end of 2025.
She was repatriated to her parent cadre from the Ministry of Panchayati Raj on December 31, 2025, after serving as Joint Secretary in the ministry.
On January 2, 2026, she was appointed Additional Director General (ADG), DD News and was simultaneously entrusted with the additional responsibility of Director General.
She subsequently assumed charge as DG, DD News, on January 8, 2026, and has since been overseeing the organisation’s news operations.
On August 7, 2026, the government formally promoted her to Selection Grade and appointed her as DG (News), Doordarshan.
Thus, what began as an additional charge in January has now culminated in her formal appointment to the senior leadership position.
Who Is Mamta Verma?
Mamta Verma is a 1994-batch Indian Information Service officer with extensive experience in public administration, government communication, media and information dissemination.
Before taking charge at DD News, she served on Central deputation as Joint Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, where her responsibilities were associated with grassroots governance, decentralisation and communication of government initiatives to citizens.
Her career has brought together two distinct areas — public administration and information management — experience that now feeds directly into her role at the country’s public broadcaster.
From Panchayati Raj to Public Broadcasting
Verma’s posting at the Ministry of Panchayati Raj was one of the important assignments before her move to Doordarshan.
As Joint Secretary, she worked in an area focused on strengthening grassroots democracy and decentralised governance.
Her responsibilities also involved communication and information dissemination related to rural governance, making her experience particularly relevant to public-service broadcasting, where reaching citizens across different regions remains a central objective.
She was repatriated to her parent cadre at the end of December 2025, paving the way for her subsequent appointment at DD News.
January 2026: Entry Into DD News Leadership
Following her repatriation, Verma was appointed ADG, DD News, on January 2, 2026.
Along with the ADG assignment, she was given the additional responsibility of DG, DD News.
She assumed full operational charge on January 8, 2026.
Her elevation came at a time when public broadcasting was undergoing rapid changes in audience behaviour, with television news increasingly competing with digital platforms, social media and online news consumption.
Over the following months, Verma continued to lead DD News while holding the additional DG responsibility.
Promoted to Selection Grade and Appointed DG (News)
The latest government order dated August 7, 2026, has now formalised Verma’s position.
She has been promoted to Selection Grade and posted as Director General (News), Doordarshan.
The move gives her a permanent leadership role at the news wing of India’s public broadcaster after several months of functioning with additional charge.
As DG (News), she will oversee the organisation’s news operations and the broader evolution of Doordarshan’s news services across television and digital platforms.
Early Life and Education
Mamta Verma is associated with Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, where she completed her early education.
She studied at Loreto Convent School, Shimla, before pursuing higher education at St. Bede’s College, Shimla.
Her educational journey was followed by entry into the Indian Information Service, beginning a career that has now spanned more than three decades.
A Career Spanning Administration and Media
Over her long career in the IIS, Verma has handled assignments that have involved government communication, public information and administrative coordination.
Her Central deputation as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj gave her experience in policy and grassroots governance, while her subsequent assignment at DD News brought her directly into the public broadcasting domain.
The combination of these experiences has shaped her profile as an officer working at the intersection of government communication, public administration and media.
Focus on Modernising Public Broadcasting
Ms Verma’s appointment comes at a time when public broadcasters are adapting to major changes in how audiences consume news.
Traditional television news is increasingly being supplemented by digital platforms, mobile applications, social media and online video.
Against this backdrop, her leadership at DD News is expected to focus on strengthening the broadcaster’s digital presence while maintaining its public-service mandate.
Her approach has been associated with an emphasis on factual reporting, reduced sensationalism and wider digital accessibility.
The challenge before the organisation is to combine the credibility and public-service role of a national broadcaster with the speed, accessibility and audience engagement expected from modern digital news platforms.
A New Phase for DD News Under Mamta Verma
With her formal appointment as DG (News), Verma now takes full charge of the news operations of Doordarshan.
Her immediate experience of several months as ADG and acting DG means that she enters the position with an understanding of the organisation’s current administrative and operational requirements.
Her background in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj also brings experience in communicating government programmes to diverse audiences, particularly at the grassroots level.
As Doordarshan continues to expand its digital footprint, Verma’s role will involve balancing the traditional responsibilities of public broadcasting with the changing expectations of today’s news audiences.
Key Dates in Mamta Verma’s Recent Career
- December 31, 2025: Repatriated to her parent cadre from the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
- January 2, 2026: Appointed ADG, DD News, with additional charge of DG.
- January 8, 2026: Assumed charge as DG, DD News.
- August 7, 2026: Promoted to Selection Grade and formally appointed DG (News), Doordarshan.
The latest promotion marks the culmination of a transition that began with her appointment as ADG earlier this year and places the veteran IIS officer in charge of one of India’s most prominent public broadcasting news organisations.
