Founding editor Saurabh Dwivedi steps down from The Lallantop after nearly 12 years at India Today Group, leaving a lasting impact on youth-focused Hindi digital journalism.

After close to twelve years with the India Today Group, senior journalist Saurabh Dwivedi has stepped down, marking the end of a defining phase in Hindi digital media. Dwivedi, who founded The Lallantop in 2016, built the platform into a prominent destination for young audiences by blending news with accessible storytelling.

Under his leadership, formats such as The Lallantop Show and Netanagri gained traction, changing how political and social conversations reached Hindi-speaking viewers online. In a farewell note, Dwivedi thanked his colleagues for giving him both “identity and courage,” adding that he plans to take a brief academic break before revealing his next professional step.

Reacting to his exit, India Today Group vice-chairperson Kalli Purie termed the transition a moment of evolution, while responsibilities within The Lallantop will now be expanded under senior editors Kuldeep Mishra and Rajat Sain.

There is industry speculation that Dwivedi could take on a role at DD News, potentially focusing on digital strategy and debate formats; however, this remains unconfirmed.

Dwivedi’s departure underlines how individual editorial vision can shape an entire digital ecosystem. His emphasis on clarity over confrontation helped attract first-time news consumers. For Hindi digital platforms, the transition highlights the need to institutionalise formats so they outlive their founders.