Poonam Pandey Becomes First Woman NBT National Bureau Chief

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Monday, 2 November 2026

Poonam Pandey has been appointed National Bureau Chief of Navbharat Times (NBT), marking a historic moment in the Hindi daily’s 80-year history. The appointment, reported on October 31, 2026, makes her the first woman to take charge of the publication’s National Bureau.

Key Highlights:

• Poonam Pandey becomes the first woman National Bureau Chief of Navbharat Times
• She has covered Parliament, national politics, and defence since 2014
• Her appointment marks a significant step for women in newsroom leadership

A senior journalist with extensive experience in political and parliamentary reporting, Poonam has built her career around some of the country’s most closely watched beats. She has covered the Indian Parliament since 2014, along with national politics, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and defence and strategic affairs.

Her reporting experience also spans India’s armed forces, including the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as foreign policy issues. Her elevation therefore places a journalist with long-standing expertise in national affairs at the helm of NBT’s national reporting operations.

Originally from Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand, Poonam holds an M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry from Kumaun University, Nainital, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Radio and Television Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi.

She began her journalism career with CNBC Awaaz and later worked with Aaj Tak, gaining experience across broadcast and print journalism before joining Navbharat Times. She is also a Chevening Fellow under the fellowship programme of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

Poonam has previously attracted attention for her work as a journalist. In July 2024, while serving as Assistant Editor at NBT, Delhi Police detained her while she was covering a Mahila Congress demonstration near Kartavya Path. Media organisations, including the Press Club of India and the Indian Women’s Press Corps, raised concerns over the incident and called for an inquiry.

Founded in 1946, Navbharat Times is one of India’s longstanding Hindi newspapers and is part of Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. (BCCL), the Times Group. Its National Bureau plays an important role in covering politics, governance, Parliament and policy from the national capital.

Poonam’s appointment consequently represents more than an individual career milestone. It brings a woman journalist to a senior editorial position traditionally dominated by men, particularly in political and defence reporting. Her elevation highlights the growing presence of women in senior newsroom leadership and offers another example of how sustained expertise in demanding reporting beats can translate into editorial responsibility.

As National Bureau Chief, Poonam will now oversee NBT’s national reporting operations at a time when political, policy and governance coverage remains central to the Hindi news landscape. Her years of experience across Parliament, politics and strategic affairs provide the foundation for her new leadership role.