The Times of India

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The Times of India: a short, easy-to-understand overview

The Times of India (TOI) is an Indian English-language daily newspaper and online news site. It is the third-largest newspaper in India by circulation and the biggest English-language daily in the world. It is also India’s oldest English-language newspaper, first published on 3 November 1838 as The Bombay Times and Journal of Commerce. It has the nickname “The Old Lady of Bori Bunder” and is often seen as a newspaper of record in India.

TOI is owned by Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. (BCCL), which is controlled by the Sahu Jain family. The paper is based in Mumbai and has editions in many Indian cities. The Times Group, which publishes TOI, also runs sister papers such as The Economic Times, Navbharat Times, Maharashtra Times, Mumbai Mirror, and regional papers like Vijay Karnataka, among others.

History and development in brief:
- The paper became The Times of India in 1861 and grew to national prominence.
- In 1946, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. was acquired by Ramkrishna Dalmia and later came under the Jain family.
- During India’s Emergency in 1975, the government briefly took control of the company, and ownership returned to the Jains in 1976.
- In recent decades, TOI has grown into a major national outlet but has also faced criticism over business practices.

Controversies and criticism:
- TOI has been criticized for “paid news” and “private treaties” (also called Brand Capital), where advertisers or companies pay for favorable coverage or ongoing promotional features.
- The paper says it discloses such material to readers, but critics say it blurs the line between news and advertising. These practices have drawn attention from media watchdogs and regulators and have influenced other Indian media groups.

Other notes:
- TOI runs a major film awards program called TOIFA, launched in 2013.
- It publishes many supplements and has editions covering national and international news, business, culture, and lifestyle.
- The Times Group remains a powerful force in Indian media, with numerous city editions and sister publications, though its ethics and business practices continue to be debated.