Lokmat began as a weekly in Yavatmal in 1918, named by Lokmanya Tilak. Jawaharlal Darda revived it in 1953 and launched the daily from Nagpur on 15 December 19…
As a freedom-struggle weekly in Yavatmal in 1918. Lokmanya Tilak is credited with the name, meaning public opinion.
Freedom fighter Jawaharlal Darda revived the closed weekly after independence; publication resumed on 1 May 1953.
On 15 December 1971, when the first Nagpur edition appeared. It became a bi-weekly in 1960 on the way.
Jalgaon on 15 December 1977, six years to the day after Nagpur, then Aurangabad on 9 January 1982.
Lokmat Times launched in English on 30 March 1987, and Lokmat Samachar in Hindi on 14 January 1989.
On 25 November 1997, aged 74. His sons Vijay and Rajendra Darda took charge.
Mumbai on 1 May 1998 and Pune on 13 September 1999. A Marathi website launched in 1998 too.
IBN Lokmat, a 50-50 venture with Network18, went on air on 6 April 2008.
Yes. The Goa edition launched on 21 April 2009.
IRS 2017 put its total readership at 18.86 million, the most of any Marathi daily. Sakal was next at 10.5 million.
It digitised the first Nagpur issue. Amit Shah attended the Golden Jubilee event in February 2023.
No. In October 2025 it agreed to sell its 50% to Network18 for Rs 25 crore.
On readership surveys, yes. On audited copies, Sakal claimed the lead for January to June 2025.
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