View source for Dainik Bhaskar

{{short description|Indian Hindi-language daily newspaper}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox newspaper
| name               = Dainik Bhaskar
| logo               = Dainik Bhaskar Logo.svg
| logo_size          = 225px
| image              = Dainik Bhaskar.jpg
| type               = Daily [[newspaper]]
| founded            = {{start date and age|df=yes|1948}} (as Subah Savere in [[Bhopal]] and Good Morning India in [[Gwalior]])<br />{{Start date and age|df=yes|1957}} (as Bhaskar Samachar)<br />{{Start date and age|df=yes|1958}} (as Dainik Bhaskar)
| format             = [[Broadsheet]]
| owners             = [[D B Corp Ltd.]]
| political_position = [[Centre-left]]
| language           = [[Hindi]]
| circulation        = 3,566,617 Daily <ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.auditbureau.org/files/JD%202022%20Highest%20Circulated%20(across%20languages).pdf | title= Highest Circulated Daily Newspapers (language wise) | publisher= [[Audit Bureau of Circulations (India)|Audit Bureau of Circulations]] |date=11 April 2023 |access-date=28 July 2023}}</ref>
| circulation_date   = April 2023
| headquarters       = [[Bhopal]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[India]]
| publishing_country = [[India]]
| sister_newspapers  = ''[[Divya Bhaskar]]<br />Dainik Divya Marathi''
| website            = {{URL|bhaskar.com}}
}}

'''''Dainik Bhaskar ''''' ({{lit|The Daily Sun|translit=Dainika Bhāskara}}) is a [[Hindi]]-language daily [[newspaper]] in India which is owned by the [[D B Corp Ltd.|Dainik Bhaskar Group]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Parsad|first1=Chandan|last2=Prashar|first2=Sanjeev|last3=Sahay|first3=Vinita|date=1 January 2017|title=Dainik Bhaskar: live no negative|url=https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/EEMCS-06-2016-0106/full/html|journal=Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies|volume=7|issue=3|pages=1–22|doi=10.1108/EEMCS-06-2016-0106|issn=2045-0621|url-access=subscription}}</ref> According to the [[World Association of Newspapers]], it ranked [[List of newspapers by circulation|fourth in the world by circulation]] in 2016 and per the [[Audit Bureau of Circulations (India)|Indian Audit Bureau of Circulations]] was the [[List of newspapers in India by circulation|largest newspaper in India by circulation]] {{As of|2022|lc=y}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://anp.cl/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/WAN-IFRA_WPT_2016_3.pdf|title=World Press Trends 2016|last=Milosevic|first=Mira|date=2016|publisher=WAN-IFRA|page=58|access-date=15 January 2018|archive-date=15 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115184445/http://anp.cl/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/WAN-IFRA_WPT_2016_3.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wptdatabase.org/world-press-trends-2016-facts-and-figures|title=World Press Trends 2016: Facts and Figures|website=wptdatabase.org|publisher=WAN-IFRA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706110804/http://www.wptdatabase.org/world-press-trends-2016-facts-and-figures|archive-date=6 July 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=15 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="ABCIND">{{cite web |title=Highest Circulated Daily Newspapers (language wise) |url=http://www.auditbureau.org/files/JJ%202022%20Highest%20Circulated%20(across%20languages).pdf |access-date=5 January 2023 |publisher=[[Audit Bureau of Circulations (India)|Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC)]]}}</ref> Started in [[Bhopal]] in 1958, it expanded in 1983 with the launch of ''Dainik Bhaskar''{{'s}} Indore edition. The Dainik Bhaskar Group is present in 13 Indian states with 65 editions in [[Hindi]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]], and [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]].{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

== History ==
{{recentism|section|date=September 2023}}
''Subah Savere'' was launched in 1948 to fulfill the need for a Hindi-language daily newspaper. It launched under the name ''Subah Savere'' ("Early Morning") in [[Bhopal]] and ''Good Morning India'' in [[Gwalior]]. In 1957, the newspaper was renamed ''Bhaskar Samachar''.

In 1958, the newspaper was renamed ''Dainik Bhaskar''. The word ''Bhaskar'' means "the Rising Sun" in English. Its rising sun graphic was meant to represent a bright future.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://rni.nic.in/registerdtitle_search/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=8 August 2020 |archive-date=18 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418070343/http://rni.nic.in/registerdtitle_search/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===2021 income tax raids===
On 22 July 2021, [[Income Tax Department]] conducted tax raids at 30 locations of Dainik Bhaskar Group in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra on charges of alleged tax evasion The homes of some of the employees were also raided.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pandey |first1=Alok |last2=Gunasekar |first2=Arvind |title=Tax Raids At Media Group Dainik Bhaskar, Also At UP Channel |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/dainik-bhaskar-group-offices-raided-by-tax-officials-sources-2491955 |access-date=24 May 2022 |work=NDTV |date=22 July 2021}}</ref> In a statement, Dainik Bhaskar claimed that the raids had been conducted after the newspaper exposed mismanagement of COVID by the government and published the real COVID-19 death statistics. They also alleged that mobile phones of the employees were seized and employees were barred from leaving.<ref>{{cite web |title=हमने अपना काम किया: गंगा में लाशों से लेकर कोरोना से मौतों के सही आंकड़े देश के सामने रखने वाले भास्कर ग्रुप पर इनकम टैक्स रेड |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/national/news/income-tax-raid-on-dainik-bhaskar-group-at-multiple-locations-latest-news-update-128727711.html |website=Dainik Bhaskar |language=hi |date=22 July 2021}}</ref>

Congress leader [[Jairam Ramesh]] said the media house was "paying the price" for its coverage during the pandemic. "Through its reporting Dainik Bhaskar has exposed the Modi regime's monumental mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is now paying the price. An Undeclared Emergency as Arun Shourie has said — this is a Modified Emergency," he tweeted.<ref name="Indian express _itd">{{cite news |agency=ENS Economic Bureau |title=I-T searches premises of Dainik Bhaskar Group, daily points to its Covid reporting |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/dainik-bhaskar-tax-raids-7416460/ |access-date=24 May 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=23 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Several other leaders including [[Rajasthan]] chief minister [[Ashok Gehlot]], [[Delhi]] chief minister [[Arvind Kejriwal]], [[West Bengal]] chief minister [[Mamata Banerjee]] also condemned the incident and expressed the common viewpoint of the raids being a "mode of intimidation".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Taskin |first1=Bismee |date=22 July 2021 |title=Income Tax dept raids Dainik Bhaskar media group, 'Modified Emergency', says Opposition |url=https://theprint.in/india/income-tax-dept-raids-dainik-bhaskar-media-group-modified-emergency-says-opposition/700585/ |work=The Print |access-date=22 May 2022}}</ref> The Editors Guild of India also expressed concern about the income tax raids on Dainik Bhaskar.<ref>{{Cite web| date=24 July 2021|title=Govt agencies being used to muzzle media: Editors Guild {{!}} India News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/govt-agencies-being-used-to-muzzle-media-editors-guild/articleshow/84696657.cms|access-date=24 July 2021|website=The Times of India| language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| date=24 July 2021|title=Concerned that govt agencies being to suppress journalism: Editors Guild|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/editors-guild-expresses-concern-over-govt-agencies-being-used-to-suppress-free-journalism-7418820/|access-date=24 July 2021|website=The Indian Express| language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| date=22 July 2021|title=Editors Guild of India condemns alleged snooping, seeks SC-monitored probe|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/editors-guild-of-india-condemns-alleged-snooping-seeks-sc-monitored-probe-101626926563564.html|access-date=24 July 2021|website=Hindustan Times| language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Editors Guild Expresses Concern Over Income Tax Raids on Dainik Bhaskar, Bharat Samachar |url=https://thewire.in/media/editors-guild-expresses-concern-over-income-tax-raids-on-dainik-bhaskar-bharat-samachar |access-date=24 May 2022 |work=The Wire |date=23 July 2021}}</ref> Union Minister and BJP MP [[Anurag Thakur]] has denied any government interference and claimed agencies are doing their job.<ref>{{cite news |title=I-T raids on Dainik Bhaskar: Anurag Thakur denies govt interference, says 'agencies are doing their job' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/dainik-bhaskar-income-tax-raids-anurag-thakur-7417088/ |access-date=24 May 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=22 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref> At last, it was claimed that tax evasion of 7,000,000,000 INR has taken place over the period of six years.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gunasekar |first1=Arvind |last2=Dutta Roy |first2=Divyanshu |title=Tax Evasion On Rs 700 Crore Found In Dainik Bhaskar Raids: Tax Department |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/dainik-bhaskar-group-did-not-pay-taxes-on-rs-700-crore-income-for-6-years-alleges-tax-department-days-after-raid-2493850 |access-date=24 May 2022 |work=NDTV |date=24 July 2021}}</ref>

===High Court order directing corrigendum===
In March 2023, Dainik Bhaskar posted a video on its Twitter handle stating [[Biharis|Bihari]] migrant workers were attacked by people in [[Tamil Nadu]] for speaking Hindi. Four months later, Madras High Court called the reporting "fake news" and directed Dainik Bhaskar to issue apology to the court and to the "people of Tamil Nadu" by issuing a corrigendum on front page of its print editions. During the investigation, Tamil Nadu police also released CCTV footage to prove the incident was a suicide, not a murder.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Team |first1=NL |title=HC tells Dainik Bhaskar to apologise for fake news on Bihar migrants 'targeted' in Tamil Nadu |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2023/07/05/hc-tells-dainik-bhaskar-to-apologise-for-fake-news-on-bihar-migrants-targeted-in-tamil-nadu |access-date=6 July 2023 |work=[[Newslaundry]] |date=5 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705185600/https://www.newslaundry.com/2023/07/05/hc-tells-dainik-bhaskar-to-apologise-for-fake-news-on-bihar-migrants-targeted-in-tamil-nadu |archive-date=5 July 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Arvind |first1=Ayesha |title=Tender unconditional apology to people of Tamil Nadu: Madras High Court to Dainik Bhaskar for fake news on migrant worker attacks |url=https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/madras-high-court-directs-dainik-bhaskar-offer-unconditional-apology-to-people-of-tn-fake-news-on-attacks-on-migrant-workers-in-state |access-date=6 July 2023 |work=Bar and Bench |date=5 July 2023}}</ref>

=== Fake and misleading news ===
In May 2022, ''Dainik Bhaskar'' published a report claiming that slogans of "Pakistan Zindabad" were raised in Bhilwara, Rajasthan. However, a fact-check by ''[[Alt News]]'' later revealed that the claim was false. The actual slogan raised was "SDPI Zindabad," not "Pakistan Zindabad."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Archit |date=19 May 2022 |title=Dainik Bhaskar falsely reports pro-Pak chant raised in Bhilwara based on old video |url=https://www.altnews.in/dainik-bhakar-falsely-reports-pro-pak-chant-raised-in-bhilwara-based-on-old-video/ |website=Alt News |access-date=25 May 2025}}</ref>

On 23 August 2018, ''Dainik Bhaskar'' published an article featuring a photo of a baby elephant with the caption: "The army is helping not just people but also animals trapped in the Kerala floods. A soldier rescued this baby elephant." The caption suggested that the image was from the Kerala floods and showed the army rescuing the elephant. However, a fact-check by ''Alt News'' revealed that the photo was actually eight months old and had nothing to do with Kerala, it was taken in Tamil Nadu.<ref>{{Cite web |title=दैनिक भास्कर ने ऊटी, तमिलनाडु में हाथी के बच्चे को बचाने की पुरानी तस्वीर केरल की बताकर छापी |url=https://www.altnews.in/hindi/dainik-bhaskar-publishes-old-photo-of-baby-elephant-rescue-from-ooty-tamil-nadu-as-kerala/ |website=Alt News |date=27 August 2018 |access-date=25 May 2025}}</ref>

== Expansion ==
By 1995, ''Dainik Bhaskar'' had emerged as the number 1 newspaper in [[Madhya Pradesh]] (MP)<ref name="Porus_Munshi_2009">{{cite book |title=Making Breakthrough Innovations Happen |author=Porus Munshi |year=2009 |publisher=Collins Business |isbn=978-81-7223-774-5 |chapter=Dainik Bhaskar: No. 1 From Day One |pages=[https://archive.org/details/makingbreakthrou0000muns/page/16 16–33] |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/makingbreakthrou0000muns/page/16}}</ref> and was declared the fastest-growing daily in India by a readership survey. The newspaper decided to expand outside [[Madhya Pradesh|MP]] and identified [[Jaipur]], the capital city of [[Rajasthan]], as the market with the highest potential.

In 1996, ''Dainik Bhaskar''{{'s}} goal was to enter Jaipur as the No. 2 newspaper (in terms of circulation) on its first day, with 50,000 copies. To achieve this target, an in-house team of 700 surveyors surveyed 200,000 potential newspaper households in Jaipur. Based on survey feedback, they went back to each of the households surveyed to show them a prototype of the newspaper and gave them the option of an advance subscription. The customers were offered a subscription price of ₹1.50 (a discount compared to the newsstand price of ₹2), and a refund in case of dissatisfaction. When ''Dainik Bhaskar'' launched in Jaipur on 19 December 1996, it was the No. 1 newspaper by selling 172,347 copies. ''[[Amar Ujala]]'', is a Hindi-dialect day by day daily paper distributed in India. It has 19 versions in seven states and one union domain covering 167 regions. It has a course of around two million copies. ''[[Rajasthan Patrika]]'', the former leader had a circulation of around 100,000 copies at that time.<ref name="Porus_Munshi_2009" /> ''Dainik Bhaskar'' successfully adopted a similar model in other cities of Rajasthan, including Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kota, Udaipur, and Ajmer Sikar, becoming the No.1 urban newspaper of the entire state by 1999.

The next target was [[Chandigarh]]. It launched a customer survey in January 2000, covering 220,000 households. At that time, the [[English language]] newspapers in Chandigarh outsold the Hindi newspapers sixfold, with [[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] as the leader with a circulation of approximately 50,000 copies. ''Dainik Bhaskar''{{'s}} survey suggested that residents of Chandigarh preferred English newspapers due to quality perceptions. As a result, the newspaper incorporated the local Chandigarh dialect in the design, mixing Hindi and English. ''Dainik Bhaskar'' launched in Chandigarh in May 2000 with 69,000 copies sold making it No.1 in the city.<ref name="Porus_Munshi_2009"/>

In June 2000, ''Dainik Bhaskar'' entered [[Haryana]], with 271,000 copies.<ref name="Porus_Munshi_2009"/>

In 2006, ''Dainik Bhaskar'' launched in [[Punjab]] with the Amritsar and Jalandhar editions and became the No.1 newspaper on the first day, displacing established legacy players.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}} Later, it increased its presence in Punjab in Ludhiana and Bhatinda.

In 2010, ''Dainik Bhaskar'' entered the [[Jharkhand]] market with the launch of a [[Ranchi]] edition, followed by Jamshedpur and Dhanbad editions.

In January 2014, ''Dainik Bhaskar'' entered [[Bihar]] with a successful launch in [[Patna]] It followed with launch of [[Muzaffarpur]], [[Bhagalpur]] and [[Gaya, India|Gaya]] editions in 2015.

In April 2014, ''Dainik Bhaskar'' launched an online Hindi edition in Uttar Pradesh.

In June 2017, ''Dainik Bhaskar'' launched its Hindi News<ref>{{Cite web|title=Google Play Store App|url=https://play.google.com/store/|access-date=19 September 2020|website=Google Play}}</ref> on three different platforms: [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS]] and [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]].

== Editions ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2021}}
''Dainik Bhaskar'' has five editions in [[Madhya Pradesh]], one edition in [[Uttar Pradesh]], four editions in [[Chhattisgarh]], 12 editions in [[Rajasthan]], three editions in [[Haryana]], four editions in [[Punjab]], four editions in [[Bihar]], three editions [[Jharkhand]] and one edition each in [[Chandigarh]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
<!-- per [[WP:ELMINOFFICIAL]], choose one official website only -->
* {{official website|https://www.bhaskar.com/}}

{{Newspapers in India}}

[[Category:Hindi-language newspapers]]
[[Category:Mass media in Bhopal]]
[[Category:Mass media in Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Daily newspapers published in India]]
[[Category:Newspapers published in Muzaffarpur]]
[[Category:Newspapers published in Patna]]
[[Category:Newspapers published in Gaya, India]]
[[Category:Newspapers published in Bhagalpur]]
[[Category:Newspapers established in 1958]]
[[Category:Mass media in Ujjain]]
[[Category:Mass media in Indore]]
[[Category:Newspapers published in Aurangabad, Bihar]]
[[Category:1958 establishments in Madhya Pradesh]]