[5] In September 2001, during the World Trade Center attacks, Aaj Tak achieved the highest viewership ratings among 15 markets, according to Nielsen Media Research.

[10][11] In 2017, Aaj Tak was criticised for propagating a false claim that a fatwa allowed Saudi Arabian men to eat their wives.

[12] In October 2020, Aaj Tak was fined ₹1 lakh and asked to broadcast apologies for fake news regarding Sushant Singh Rajput.

[13] Aaj Tak was fined ₹5 lakh by BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council) for viewership manipulation in a TRP scam.

A complaint was filed with the News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) in which Aaj Tak was accused of intending to "develop hatred in the minds of the people against a particular community," during the COVID-19 pandemic in India.

[15] On 16 June 2021, the NBDSA directed that Aaj Tak's broadcasts be taken down from all Internet platforms that linked the COVID-19 outbreak with Tablighi Jamaat in 2020, citing potential "errors in the figures telecast".

[18] In March 2023, Aaj Tak faced widespread social media ridicule after the clip of its coverage went viral, where the channel's representatives were seen filming gangster Atiq Ahmed urinating while in transit from Gujarat to Prayagraj under the custody of police.

In March 2024, The News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDSA) fined Aaj Tak for Sudhir Chaudhary's 'tukde tukde' and 'Khalistani' remarks, against the former US president Barack Obama and penalised the channel over 'Love Jihad' shows.

[21][22] In March 2024, the News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) directed Aaj Tak to remove a fictional video aired during its 'Black and White' show, which depicted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as a robber.

The authority warned the channel to exercise greater caution in future broadcasts to avoid misrepresentation and potential defamation.