Sr. journalist Runjhun Sharma appointed Head of News, RT India

Runjhun Sharma, one of RT’s most recognised South Asia journalists has now taken charge as Head of News, RT India.

Sharma has long been RT Moscow bureau’s most plugged-in South Asia correspondent, reporting for the network even before the Ukraine war. Known for her sharp reportage and rare access, she has covered key developments across South Asia as well as President Putin’s high-stakes multilateral and bilateral engagements in Russia, China and beyond. 

She has also authored widely read columns offering an on-the-ground correspondent’s view of observing President Putin up close, reflecting the depth of access she has enjoyed at high-level events.

After years of reporting from global summits and diplomatic frontlines, paired with her calm, distinctly non-Western journalistic style, Sharma now assumes the role of Head of News, RT India, shaping the editorial direction of the newly launched bureau.

Giving the green light with a bold “let’s go,” alongside Margarita Simonyan and Sharma in the New Delhi studio and on his screen, President Putin announced:  “Today we are launching Russia Today India, or RT India. Russia Today, first and foremost, strives to communicate to its viewers truthful information about our country and about what’s happening around the globe. It significantly differs from propaganda channels and Western information sources.”

He added,  “This is an important event because it gives millions of Indians the opportunity to perceive information about our country more closely and clearly—about the developments in our country, about what Russia is thinking, and what it is striving for.”

RT India is being positioned as a dedicated India-focused outlet within Russia’s state-run global media apparatus, mirroring Moscow’s strategy to deepen its media footprint in partner nations. With Sharma at the helm of editorial operations, the network’s newest newsroom is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping India-Russia narratives at a time when multipolar storytelling is gaining global traction.