Sanket Upadhyay is one of India’s most respected television and digital journalists. Over more than two decades in the news business, he has worked with some of the biggest names in Indian media — NDTV, CNN-News18, Times Now, and the India Today Group. He is equally known for his sharp reporting in both Hindi and English, and for being the husband of prominent journalist Palki Sharma Upadhyay.
But Sanket’s story is not just about famous organizations and prime-time shows. It is the story of a boy from Ayodhya who grew up in a family deeply rooted in journalism, found his calling early, and built a career through hard work, versatility, and a genuine love of storytelling.
Quick Information Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sanket Upadhyay |
| Profession | Journalist, News Anchor, Digital Content Creator |
| Known For | NDTV, CNN-News18, The Red Mike co-founder |
| Date of Birth | July 16, 1982 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 43 Years |
| Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
| Birth Place | Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Hometown | Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Caste/Community | Brahmin |
| Education | B.A. in Journalism, Delhi University (2003) |
| School | Delhi Public School, Noida (1991–2000) |
| Father’s Name | Madhukar Upadhyay |
| Mother’s Name | Kumud Upadhyay (Deceased, late 2025) |
| Wife | Palki Sharma Upadhyay |
| Children | Two (one son, one daughter) |
| Siblings | Sanchita Upadhyay (Sister) |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) |
| Weight | Approx. 70 kg |
| Current Work | Double Check & Awadh Punch (YouTube channels, 2026) |
| Previous Key Role | Consulting Editor, NDTV |
| Estimated Net Worth | Approx. ₹33 Crore / $4 Million (estimated) |
| Estimated Salary | Approx. ₹3 Lakh per month (estimated, previously) |
| Wikipedia | Not Publicly Available (no verified Wikipedia page) |
| Not Publicly Available (no verified handle confirmed) | |
| Twitter / X | Active (used to announce career updates) |
Sanket Upadhyay Age, Early Life, and Education
A Childhood Steeped in Journalism
- Sanket Upadhyay was born on July 16, 1982, in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.
- He was raised in a family where journalism was a way of life, not just a profession.
- His father, Madhukar Upadhyay, is a renowned journalist, writer, and professor at National Tribal University, Amarkantak.
- His father previously worked at Hindi BBC Radio in London and Delhi.
- Growing up around newspapers, radio broadcasts, and editorial discussions gave young Sanket an early window into the world of news.
- He was absorbing the language of journalism long before he ever stepped into a newsroom.
- In March 2021, Sanket shared on social media that in 1994, at just 12 years old, he walked the historic Dandi route (390 km) along with his father and sister — a memory that shaped his values of history, conviction, and courage.
School Days in Noida
- From 1991 to 2000, Sanket attended Delhi Public School, Noida for his formal school education.
- Moving from Ayodhya to Noida gave him exposure to a fast-paced, competitive environment.
- His time at DPS helped him build strong communication skills and critical thinking — two qualities that became the foundation of his journalism career.
A Happy Accident at Delhi University
- After school, Sanket’s path to a journalism degree was almost an accident.
- He was about to enroll for English Honours at another college.
- He went to check if his name was shortlisted for Journalism at Maharaja Agrasen College — and to his surprise, it was, ranked number three.
- Taking it as a sign of luck, he chose journalism over other courses.
- The admission interview was difficult, but he cleared it.
- In 2003, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Journalism from Delhi University.
- That unplanned decision turned out to be one of the best choices of his life.
Early Internship That Changed Everything
- Even before completing his degree, Sanket did a long internship with the Delhi-based Indo Asian News Service (IANS).
- He worked as a reporter during this internship.
- That hands-on newsroom experience confirmed what he had long suspected — this was the life he wanted.
Family Details
Father — Madhukar Upadhyay
- Sanket’s father, Madhukar Upadhyay, is a veteran of PTI (Press Trust of India) and the BBC World Service.
- He also worked with Navbharat Times, UNI, and PTI Bhasha.
- He is currently a professor at National Tribal University, Amarkantak.
- He is among the most significant influences in Sanket’s personal and professional life.
Mother — Kumud Upadhyay
- Sanket’s mother was named Kumud Upadhyay.
- She passed away in late 2025, just before Sanket announced his exit from The Red Mike.
- Her passing deeply affected Sanket personally and played a key role in his decision to step back from professional commitments for a time.
Sister — Sanchita Upadhyay
- Sanket has one sister — Sanchita Upadhyay.
- She prefers a private life and is not in the public eye.
- Further personal details about her are not publicly available.
Wife — Palki Sharma Upadhyay
- Sanket is married to Palki Sharma Upadhyay, one of India’s most recognized television journalists.
- Palki currently serves as the Managing Editor at Firstpost.
- She previously served as Managing Editor at WION (World Is One News), where she became a globally recognized face.
- The couple shares a professional bond as much as a personal one — both are deeply committed journalists.
- Palki is widely followed for her bold editorial voice and outspoken reporting style.
Children
- Sanket and Palki have two children together — one son and one daughter.
- The couple keeps their children away from the media spotlight, respecting their privacy.
- Their children’s names and ages are not publicly available.
Career Timeline
Sanket Upadhyay’s career spans over two decades and covers print, television, and digital media. Here is a chronological view of his professional journey:
| Year | Position | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Intern / Reporter | Indo Asian News Service (IANS), Delhi |
| 2003–2005 | Staff Writer | Hindustan Times, Jaipur |
| 2005–2007 | Correspondent / Lucknow Bureau Head | NDTV |
| 2007–2008 | Principal Correspondent | NewsX, Delhi |
| 2008 | Principal Correspondent | Headlines Today / TV Today / Aaj Tak |
| 2008–2014 | Deputy News Editor | Times Now (Times Group), Delhi |
| 2014 | Reporter, Anchor, Output In-Charge | India Today Group |
| 2016 onwards | Deputy Executive Editor | CNN-News18 |
| 2019–2023 | Consulting Editor, Anchor | NDTV (Second Stint) |
| Dec 2023 | Co-Founder & Director | The Red Mike (Digital Platform) |
| Nov 2025 | Resigned | The Red Mike |
| Early 2026 | Founder / Creator | Double Check & Awadh Punch (YouTube) |
Career Highlights — The Full Story
Beginning with Print: Hindustan Times
- Sanket began his journalism career in August 2003 as a Staff Writer at Hindustan Times, working at the Jaipur bureau.
- He served there until August 2005.
- Print journalism taught him discipline, precision in language, and the art of structured storytelling.
- This early experience laid a solid foundation for his television career.
The NDTV Years — His “Gurukul”
- Sanket joined NDTV in 2005 as a Correspondent.
- He rose quickly to become Lucknow Bureau Head for NDTV’s English channel.
- He achieved this at just 23 years of age — a remarkable milestone.
- He has himself called NDTV the “Gurukul of Journalism” — a place where he truly learned the craft.
Times Now and Versatile Growth
- After NDTV, Sanket joined Times Now in Delhi.
- He covered high-stakes stories — from natural disasters to national elections.
- He also occasionally anchored the flagship show NewsHour.
- He then joined the India Today Group, where he handled reporting, anchoring, and output management simultaneously.
CNN-News18 — Rising to Deputy Executive Editor
- Sanket joined CNN-News18 in 2016 as Deputy Executive Editor.
- He played a key role in the channel’s daytime editorial operations.
- He also hosted the evening prime-time show.
- This role marked a shift from reporter to editorial leader.
Second Innings at NDTV
- Sanket returned to NDTV for his second stint, becoming a popular face across all NDTV channels.
- He hosted the Hindi debate show Muqabala.
- He anchored the English debate show The Big Fight.
- He also presented the prime-time show Khabaron Ki Khabar.
- His ability to anchor in both Hindi and English made him one of a kind in Indian broadcasting.
Leaving NDTV in 2023
- In October 2023, Sanket resigned from NDTV as Consulting Editor.
- He made the announcement on X (formerly Twitter).
- His farewell post read: “My exciting second stint in NDTV will soon come to an end. This one is special. I shall have a new professional address. Soon.”
- It was a gracious, forward-looking departure that hinted at something new on the horizon.
The Red Mike — Building Independent Media
- In December 2023, Sanket co-founded The Red Mike along with senior journalists Sunil Saini and Saurabh Shukla.
- The platform positioned itself as a space for centrist, fact-based journalism.
- At the exchange4media NewsNext conference in April 2024, Sanket said: “Journalists do not need a big media network to do journalism anymore.”
- He also made a memorable statement: “Whoever tells you they are truly neutral is lying — the only condition for true neutrality is death.”
- He added that whatever one’s biases, they must be grounded in absolute facts.
Why Sanket Upadhyay Left The Red Mike
In November 2025, Sanket Upadhyay announced his departure from The Red Mike — the platform he had co-founded just two years earlier. Here is what happened:
- He stepped down from all responsibilities at The Red Mike, including his role as Director and Co-Founder.
- He confirmed the decision in a conversation with Samachaar4media.
- He cited personal reasons as the cause of his exit.
- His mother, Kumud Upadhyay, had passed away just a month before his resignation.
- He expressed a desire to spend more time with his family during this difficult period.
- On his future plans, he said: “It’s not yet clear what I’ll do next, but journalism is and will always be my love. Let’s see what life takes.”
- He did not leave journalism — he stepped away from a specific institution to reconnect with his personal priorities.
Where is Sanket Upadhyay Now?
After leaving The Red Mike and taking a short personal break, Sanket returned to media in early 2026 — this time completely on his own terms. Here is what he is doing now:
- He launched two new YouTube channels — Double Check and Awadh Punch.
- His flagship channel, Double Check, is designed to fight the “race for popularity” that spreads misinformation.
- The channel focuses on verifying data twice before forming editorial opinions.
- It prioritizes consumer awareness and investigative storytelling over breaking news speed or loud debates.
- He described his digital audience as a “new family” built over 24 years in mainstream journalism.
- He stated that the direct support of his audience motivated him to enter the independent creator space.
- He is also writing articles for The Federal, where he is listed as a TV and digital news journalist with 24 years of experience.
Awards and Achievements
No verified, formally named awards or government honours for Sanket Upadhyay are publicly available at this time. However, his career achievements speak for themselves:
- Became NDTV’s Lucknow Bureau Head at just 23 years of age — an exceptional achievement for a young journalist.
- Anchored marquee shows — The Big Fight, Muqabala, Khabaron Ki Khabar (NDTV), and NewsHour (Times Now).
- Rose to Deputy Executive Editor at CNN-News18, one of India’s leading news channels.
- Co-founded The Red Mike in 2023 — a respected independent journalism platform.
- Launched Double Check in 2026 — a fact-first YouTube channel fighting misinformation.
- Mastered bilingual broadcasting in both Hindi and English — a rare skill in Indian television journalism.
Interesting Facts About Sanket Upadhyay
- Born into a journalism legacy: His father Madhukar Upadhyay worked for BBC Hindi Radio, PTI Bhasha, and Navbharat Times — making Sanket a proud second-generation journalist.
- Unplanned career choice: He almost enrolled in English Honours but ended up in Journalism almost by accident — and it changed everything.
- Youngest bureau head: He became NDTV’s Lucknow bureau head at just 23 years old — an unusual feat for someone so early in their career.
- Bilingual broadcaster: He can anchor high-profile debates with equal fluency in both Hindi and English — a rare quality in Indian TV journalism.
- Dandi walk memory: In 1994, at age 12, he walked 390 km on the historic Dandi route with his father and sister — an experience that shaped his values.
- Great-grandfather was a magistrate: He shared on social media that his great-grandfather served as the Magistrate of Faizabad in the 1950s, reflecting the family’s deep public service roots.
- Started The Red Mike from scratch: Along with just two colleagues, he built The Red Mike without the backing of any major media house.
- Double Check — fighting misinformation: His 2026 YouTube channel is designed to counter AI-generated misinformation and viral content that lacks verification.
- Spouse is also a prominent journalist: His wife Palki Sharma Upadhyay is Managing Editor at Firstpost and one of India’s best-known news anchors.
- Personal grief sparked a creative pivot: The passing of his mother in late 2025 led him to pause, reflect, and return to journalism in a more personal, independent form.
Conclusion
Sanket Upadhyay’s life is a compelling example of what a journalism career can look like when driven by genuine passion rather than institutional loyalty. Some key takeaways from his journey:
- He started with a chance admission into a journalism course and grew into one of the most respected bilingual anchors in Indian television.
- He proved journalism can be reinvented at every stage — from print reporter to prime-time anchor to independent digital creator.
- He showed that leaving a big organization is not the end — it can be the beginning of something more meaningful.
- His decision to launch Double Check reflects his belief that good journalism must be fact-first, not fame-first.
- His story is a reminder for young journalists: build your skills, stay curious, remain loyal to facts, and never stop telling the stories that matter.
Read More: Thehonorstory
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Sanket Upadhyay?
Sanket Upadhyay is a veteran Indian journalist and news anchor with over 24 years of experience. He has worked with NDTV, CNN-News18, Times Now, and the India Today Group, and co-founded the digital platform The Red Mike in 2023.
2. What is Sanket Upadhyay’s age?
Sanket Upadhyay was born on July 16, 1982. As of 2026, he is 43 years old.
3. Who is Sanket Upadhyay’s wife?
Sanket Upadhyay is married to Palki Sharma Upadhyay, a senior Indian journalist who currently serves as Managing Editor at Firstpost.
4. Does Sanket Upadhyay have children?
Yes. Sanket Upadhyay and Palki Sharma Upadhyay have two children together — one son and one daughter. Their names are not publicly available.
5. Why did Sanket Upadhyay leave The Red Mike?
Sanket Upadhyay left The Red Mike in November 2025 citing personal reasons. His mother, Kumud Upadhyay, had passed away shortly before his exit, and he stated he wanted to spend more time with his family.
6. Why did Sanket Upadhyay leave NDTV?
Sanket resigned from NDTV in October 2023 after his second stint as Consulting Editor. He announced the departure on X and hinted at a new professional venture, which turned out to be The Red Mike.
7. Where is Sanket Upadhyay now in 2026?
As of 2026, Sanket Upadhyay has launched two independent YouTube channels — Double Check and Awadh Punch — and is contributing articles to The Federal. He is working independently in digital journalism.
8. What is Sanket Upadhyay’s net worth?
Sanket Upadhyay’s estimated net worth is approximately ₹33 crore (around $4 million), based on his long career across major Indian media organizations. This is an estimate and is Not Officially Confirmed.
9. Who are Sanket Upadhyay’s parents?
His father is Madhukar Upadhyay, a noted journalist, writer, professor, and former BBC Hindi Radio journalist. His mother was Kumud Upadhyay, who passed away in late 2025.
10. What is The Red Mike?
The Red Mike is an independent digital journalism platform that Sanket Upadhyay co-founded in December 2023 along with journalists Sunil Saini and Saurabh Shukla, after leaving NDTV. It described itself as a platform for centrist journalism.
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