Dr. Pragya Paliwal Gaur

Dr. Pragya Paliwal Gaur, a senior officer of the Indian Information Service (IIS-91), bringing with her a formidable legacy of over 34 years of experience in the media units of the Government of India. Her career is marked by high-level leadership, having most recently served as the Director General of Akashvani and the News Services Division. Throughout her professional journey, she has held several other critical positions, including Director General of the Press Information Bureau in New Delhi, Director at Doordarshan Kendra Jaipur, and Regional Head of the Central Bureau of Communication.

Dr. Gaur’s professional acumen is matched by her rigorous academic background. She earned her PhD from the University of Rajasthan, where her doctoral research focused on the sociological analysis of the interface between media and economic recessions. Her foundation in economics is equally impressive, as she held the top position in her Master of Arts in Economics at the same university in 1989. Furthermore, her intellectual versatility is highlighted by her credentials as a diploma and certificate holder in the Russian language.

As a prolific contributor to the field of communication, Dr. Gaur has published over 200 articles in prominent national and regional newspapers. Her scholarly work regularly appears in esteemed publications such as Communicator, Kurukshetra, Yojana, and Communication Today. Beyond her own writing, she has contributed significantly to the academic community by translating research on drug abuse and serving as the editor of The File, an in-house journal for the National Academy of Direct Taxes.

Her international exposure is extensive, often accompanying the President and Prime Minister of India for official media coverage at global forums. Her notable assignments include the Indo-Russian Summit in Russia, and G20 Summits in Canada.  She also participated in the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union General Assembly in Istanbul in 2024. This global perspective is further strengthened by specialised training at world-renowned institutions, including the Thomson Foundation in the UK, Queensland University of Technology in Australia, and the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, San Francisco.

Dr. Pragya Paliwal Gaur brings a rare fusion of high-level administrative leadership and scholarly depth that is uniquely suited to the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. Her thirty-four years of experience within major media units equip the university with a leader who understands the mechanics of national information dissemination and the evolution of public broadcasting. This practical expertise, combined with her extensive international exposure at summits like the G20, ensures that the curriculum and research at IIMC remain globally relevant and aligned with modern media dynamics. honesty is prioritised, bridging the gap between professional media practice and academic rigour.