Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 609, to be answered on December 3, 2025, submitted by Shri Jagannath Sarkar, requests information from the Minister of Information & Broadcasting regarding DAVP (Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity) advertisements in West Bengal. The questions pertain to the total DAVP advertisement amount released to newspapers and news channels in West Bengal over the last three financial years (media-wise), a list of recipients and allocated funds, whether small/regional Bengali newspapers received proportionate support compared to larger national outlets, the criteria for advertisement distribution by DAVP/Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) among West Bengal media houses, and steps taken to ensure fair/equitable allocation of advertisement funds to regional and local outlets in West Bengal.
The Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs (Dr. L. Murugan) responded that the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) issues advertisements on behalf of various Ministries/Departments related to Government of India schemes/programmes/initiatives. Newspaper advertisements follow the Print Media Advertisement Policy, while news channel advertisements adhere to Audio Visual Policy guidelines. Advertisements are released according to the client ministries'/departments' requirements and the campaigns' target audience. Advertisement policies/guidelines, expenditure details, and a list of recipients are available on the CBC website: www.davp.nic.in.
Key Entities Referenced
Central Bureau of Communication (CBC): A government body that issues advertisements on behalf of various Ministries/Departments.
Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP): An agency responsible for releasing advertisements to newspapers and news channels.
West Bengal: The state where the DAVP advertisements were placed in newspapers and news channels.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting: The ministry responsible for answering questions related to DAVP advertisements.
Print Media Advertisement Policy: Policy used for issuing advertisements related to newspapers.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 609
TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2025
DAVP ADVERTISEMENTS TO NEWSPAPERS AND NEWS CHANNELS IN WEST
BENGAL
609. SHRI JAGANNATH SARKAR
Will the Minister of INFORMATION & BROADCASTING be pleased to state:
(a) the total amount of Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP) advertisements
released to newspapers and news channels based in West Bengal during each of the last three
financial years, media-wise;
(b) the list of newspapers and news channels in West Bengal that received DAVP advertisements
during the said period along with the quantum of funds allocated thereto;
(c) whether small and regional newspapers including those in Bengali language have received
proportionate advertisement support compared to larger national dailies and channels and if so,
the details thereof;
(d) the criteria adopted by DAVP/Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) for distribution of
advertisements among West Bengal media houses; and
(e) the steps being taken by the Government to ensure fair, transparent and equitable allocation of
advertisement funds to regional and local newspapers and channels in West Bengal ?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION & BROADCASTING; AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
(DR. L. MURUGAN)
(a) to (e): The Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) issues advertisements on behalf of various
Ministries/Departments related to schemes/programmes and other initiatives of the Government of
India.The advertisements related to newspapers are issued as per the Print Media Advertisement Policy,
and to news channels as per the Audio Visual Policy guidelines. The advertisement are released as
per the requirements of the client ministries/departments and the target audience of the campaigns.
The advertisement policies/guidelines, details of the expenditure incurred and newspapers and the
news Channels to which advertisements have been given are available on the website of CBC i.e.
www.davp.nic.in.
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