Vivek Bhavsar is a senior journalist with over three decades of experience in political reporting, investigative journalism, and governance analysis. As the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of TheNews21, he leads one of India’s most uncompromising independent digital newsrooms — a platform built on transparency, accountability, and fearless public-interest reporting.

Prashant Hamine is a seasoned journalist with over 33 years of experience in English journalism, specialising in political reporting, election systems, public policy, and international affairs. He holds a Graduate degree in Indian Political Systems and a Postgraduate degree in International Politics, Foreign Relations & Diplomacy, giving him rare academic depth and intellectual grounding in geopolitical and governance issues.

Salman Khan is the backbone of TheNews21’s digital operations — a highly skilled and reliable journalist who oversees the entire online content workflow, from news curation and editing to publishing and real-time updates. As the platform’s first employee since its inception, Salman has played a central role in building the digital identity and daily rhythm of TheNews21.

Aadil Akbar is a young and dynamic journalist with over six years of reporting experience from one of India’s most sensitive regions — Jammu & Kashmir. As TheNews21’s Special Correspondent, he covers politics, governance, human-interest narratives, and the lived realities of people in a territory shaped by conflict, security operations, and shifting political currents.

Raj Trivedi is the backbone of TheNews21’s technical ecosystem — the architect behind the platform’s web infrastructure, performance, security, and digital workflow. As the Technical Lead for TheNews21 and TheRajkaran, Raj ensures seamless functioning of the websites, manages backend systems, and handles all technical upgrades, troubleshooting, and digital optimisation.

Anjana Sasi is an award-winning journalist from Kerala with more than 23 years of experience across print and digital media. With a distinguished career that spans sports journalism, travel writing, gender issues, culture, and human-interest narratives, she brings remarkable depth and versatility to TheNews21 as News Editor (Sports).

N. Muraleedharan is a veteran journalist and political analyst with decades of experience covering Kerala’s political landscape and national affairs. Beginning his career with the prestigious Press Trust of India (PTI), he built a reputation for sharp political insight, historical grounding, and an unmistakable command over the complexities of India’s federal political system.

Dr. Bhavna Singh is a distinguished scholar of China, currently serving as a Senior Research Fellow at Shaanxi Normal University in Xi’an, China. Her research centres on Chinese nationalism, ethnic policy, and the politics of China’s autonomous regions — areas that position her among India’s most credible voices on contemporary China studies.

Adv. Amit Kumar Bhowmik is a seasoned Pune-based lawyer with over five decades of experience in the legal profession. Now in his seventies, he brings to TheNews21 the rare perspective of a senior jurist shaped by years of courtroom practice, constitutional engagement, and deep understanding of India’s evolving legal landscape.

Dr. Rohidas Mundhe is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civics and Politics at the University of Mumbai, where he specialises in international relations, Asian politics, and comparative political systems. His academic work focuses on world affairs, China’s political strategies, South Asian geopolitics, and refugee studies, making him one of the emerging scholarly voices in these critical areas.

Jayesh Sangeeta Dinesh Bafna, based in Dhule, is a committed social activist who works closely on issues of civic welfare, public grievances, community rights, and grassroots governance. Deeply connected to people’s concerns on the ground, he brings to TheNews21 a citizen-centric perspective shaped by lived realities rather than political filters.

(Past Contributor – Not Currently Associated with TheNews21)

Kunal Chonkar previously served as Editor (Foreign Affairs) at TheNews21, where he oversaw international news coverage and contributed reports on diplomacy, conflict, and Asian geopolitics. With over a decade of experience in national and international reporting, he covered breaking developments, global missions, and crisis situations across Asia. During his tenure, he authored several foreign affairs reports that remain part of TheNews21’s published archives. He is no longer associated with TheNews21.

Lt Gen Anil Puri is one of India’s most respected military leaders, known for his strategic clarity, reform-oriented approach, and uncompromising commitment to national interests. A decorated officer of the Indian Army, he has held some of the most consequential positions in India’s defence establishment.

Madhav Bhandari is a senior political figure in Maharashtra and currently serves as the State Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). With decades of experience in public life, organisational leadership, electoral strategy, and political communication, he brings deep insight into the state’s governance structures and political evolution.

Narendra Gupta worked with TheNews21 during the Covid-19 pandemic, contributing crime reports, civic stories, and political-cultural coverage at a time when the media industry faced widespread disruption.

Naresh Kamath is a senior Mumbai-based journalist with over two decades of experience across some of India’s most respected news organisations. His professional journey includes significant roles at the Hindustan Times and The Free Press Journal, where he covered high-visibility beats with depth and consistency.

Abhitash D. Singh began his journalism career with Navi Mumbai’s Newsband in 2009, and later worked with several well-known publications including MiD-Day, Afternoon Despatch & Courier, and briefly The Hindu.

Aditya Alex interned with TheNews21 in 2022, contributing analytical articles on international relations and South Asian geopolitics. During his internship, he wrote on subjects such as China’s debt-trap diplomacy, Pakistan’s economic vulnerabilities, and the political–economic crisis in Sri Lanka, demonstrating early interest in global governance and strategic affairs.

Adv. Pranita Deshpande is a Netherlands-based contributor whose work reflects the vibrant intersection of Indian diaspora initiatives, cultural diplomacy, global community leadership, and international engagement. Based in The Hague, she is the President of NYSA (Netherlands Yogasana Sports Association), where she plays a key role in promoting Yogasana as a recognised global sport and strengthening cultural ties between India and Europe.

Esha Aphale is one of TheNews21’s most promising young voices — a sharp, research-driven journalist whose work spans foreign affairs, South Asian geopolitics, multilateral institutions, and economic transitions in the developing world. Her reporting has examined issues such as Pakistan’s subsidy dilemma amid economic collapse, Nepal’s evolving border politics, Bangladesh’s development trajectory, and India’s strategic role in global trade forums like the G33 Ministerial.

Rafique Mulla is a veteran Mumbai-based journalist with an impressive 26-year career spanning print, television, and digital media. His professional journey includes some of the most respected news organisations in Maharashtra, where he has held a wide range of editorial and field roles — from Managing Editor and Bureau Chief to Political Editor, Special Correspondent, Feature Writer, Copy Editor, Sub Editor, Reporter, and Producer.

Ravikiran Deshmukh is a senior journalist with nearly 29 years of experience across Marathi and English media, known for his deep understanding of Maharashtra’s political landscape. Since 1991, he has closely tracked and reported on shifting political equations, ideologically diverse governments, and the socio-economic consequences of policy decisions.

Rex Cano is a seasoned financial journalist with more than 20 years of experience in India’s market and business ecosystem. Over the course of his career, he has worked with leading institutions such as IIFL, Sharekhan, Business Standard, HDFC Securities, and later expanded his editorial expertise at the Free Press Journal and SBI Mutual Fund.

Sahana David Menon is a South Asia–based multimedia journalist, researcher, and storyteller whose work spans conflict zones, post-war societies, marginalised communities, and environmental transitions across the region. As Foreign Correspondent (Sri Lanka) for TheNews21, she brings a rare combination of empathy, field experience, and visual storytelling to the platform’s international coverage.

Sunil Kale is a seasoned journalist with more than 20 years of experience reporting across India’s political landscape, global diplomatic forums, and major international sporting events. Based in Mumbai, he is widely recognised for his sharp field reporting, clear analytical style, and unwavering commitment to factual accuracy.

Utkarsha Muley interned with TheNews21 in 2020 and again in 2022, contributing deeply researched stories across public policy, governance, education, agriculture, and international affairs. Her work reflected strong academic curiosity and the ability to interpret complex policy developments for a wider audience.

Vikas Nag contributed to TheNews21 as a reporter covering civic administration, public health, political developments, and governance decisions in Mumbai. His work focused on identifying key institutional issues and breaking down government directives for public understanding.

Vivek Shukla is a seasoned journalist whose career began in 1985 and has since travelled through some of India’s most dynamic shifts in politics, society, and media. With nearly four decades in the field, he brings a rare blend of experience, sensitivity, and analytical sharpness to his writing.

Santoshee Mishra is a former journalist with The Indian Express who brought strong court and crime reporting expertise to TheNews21 during her tenure. With a background in covering legal developments, criminal investigations, law-enforcement functioning, and courtroom proceedings, she contributed sharp, factual, and detail-oriented stories to the newsroom.

Hepzi Anthony is an experienced journalist who contributed to TheNews21 with well-researched stories on education, policy, and social development. Her reporting reflected thoughtful engagement with issues affecting students, institutions, and community stakeholders.

Prajakta Chavan Rane reported for TheNews21 on Navi Mumbai’s civic affairs, environmental challenges, and local political developments. Her stories brought grounded perspectives from rapidly growing urban neighbourhoods, highlighting residents’ concerns, administrative responses, and on-ground realities.

Special Rapporteur (Maharashtra & Goa), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

Columnist – National Security, Policing & Justice Systems

Praveen Dixit is one of India’s most respected voices on policing, national security, and public safety. A former Director General of Police (DGP), Maharashtra, he has led some of the state’s most critical law-enforcement, counter-terrorism, and administrative reforms during a distinguished career spanning several decades.

Late Ashwin Aghor was a respected journalist whose nearly 20-year career spanned political reporting, investigative journalism, and coverage of infrastructure and environmental governance. His sharp mind, steady integrity, and rare clarity of judgment made him one of the most trusted editorial voices of his generation.