Present disclosure provides a process for the synthesis of visible light responsive doped titania photocatalysts. The process involves step a) milling a mixture containing titania and a precursor compound, the compound selected from the group consisting of chloroauric acid and a mixture containing chloroauric acid and silver nitrate, in the presence of water and oxide milling media, at a temperature in the range of 20 to 50° C. for a period of 60-120 minutes, to form a slurry, wherein the amount of water is in the range of 15 to 25% by weight of the total mixture; and b) filtering the slurry to separate the oxide milling media and obtain a filtrate containing doped titania nanoparticles.