Vineet Jain, Managing Director of The Times Group, has been conferred the Lifetime Contribution to Media award at the 70th Foundation Day and 20th National Management Day of the All India Management Association (AIMA) in New Delhi. The honour was presented by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

According to a press release, the award recognises Jain’s transformative leadership in expanding The Times Group into India’s largest diversified multimedia enterprise. The theme of AIMA’s 16th Managing India Awards 2026, ‘Transforming for Tomorrow: Growth with Resilience’, highlighted his role in shaping the organisation’s growth and strengthening its position across multiple media platforms.

Accepting the honour, Jain expressed gratitude and dedicated the recognition to his colleagues. He described the award as a significant milestone and acknowledged the contribution of teams that have worked consistently towards building The Times Group into one of India’s leading multimedia companies.

In its citation, AIMA described Jain as a future-ready leader and agile entrepreneur who transformed a legacy newspaper business into a diversified media powerhouse. It highlighted how he revitalised and modernised the group’s print foundations while expanding strategically into emerging technologies and markets since the late 1980s. The industry body noted that his leadership helped build a multifaceted media network spanning television, radio, internet, films, music, sports, events, outdoor advertising, education and investments, shaping both information and entertainment landscapes in India.

Under Jain’s leadership, the group has strengthened its presence in non-print media through television brands such as Times Now, ET Now and Zoom, while also expanding their digital platforms. Radio Mirchi, Gaana, Times OOH, Times Music and Magicbricks have emerged as major players in their respective sectors. The group’s legacy publications, including Femina and Filmfare, have continued to grow, while its ventures into education through Bennett University and the edtech platform TimesPro reflect a broader vision of integrating knowledge and enterprise.

AIMA also commended Jain’s contribution to cultural initiatives, pointing to the reinvention of the Filmfare Awards and the Femina Miss India pageant nearly three decades ago, as well as the launch of the Times Litfest. These initiatives, it noted, demonstrate a balance between mass entertainment and intellectual engagement.

Reiterating his appreciation for the recognition, Jain emphasised the organisation’s continued focus on innovation, resilience and excellence in an evolving media environment. He said The Times Group aims to maintain leadership across all media verticals and continue expanding its influence in the industry.

The Times Group remains one of India’s leading media conglomerates, with operations spanning television, digital, print, radio, outdoor media, events, music, films, real estate platforms, education and investments, alongside a growing presence in global sports and digital content creation.