NEW DELHI - Discussions on Indian television about the news never cease to shock viewers. A woman panellist was slapped on live television in 2018. The following year, a glass of water was flung at a panellist. Last month, a particularly shocking expletive was blurted.

On each occasion, the Indian television news industry has done little to introspect about how it has abandoned its core responsibility - delivery of the news - opting instead for high-decibel toxic verbal duels and mock trials that, while grabbing eyeballs, plumb to new depths embarrassing for journalism every night.