**Executive Summary**
This document addresses Unstarred Question No. 1837, to be answered on December 10, 2025, regarding the financial impact analysis of a hike in advertisement rates. The Minister of Information and Broadcasting outlines the Government's position, referencing the 9th Rate Structure Committee (RSC) established on November 11, 2021. This committee was created to examine and recommend revisions in advertisement rates for print media.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **9th Rate Structure Committee (RSC):**
* Established on November 11, 2021, to examine and recommend revisions in advertisement rates for print media.
* Consulted with stakeholders including the Indian Newspaper Society (INS), All India Small Newspapers Association (AISNA), Small-Medium-Big Newspapers Society (SMBNS), and representatives of large, media and small publications.
* Assessed cost parameters such as newsprint costs, inflationary trends, processing/production expenses, employee wages, and imported paper prices.
* Submitted unanimous recommendations, accepted by the Government.
* **Government Position:**
* Agrees to the recommendations of the Committee relating to premium rates for colour advertisements and preferential positioning.
* Claims the revised rates are commensurate with rising input costs and competition from digital platforms.
* States that enhanced revenue flows will sustain operations, strengthen news ecosystems, enable better content creation, and serve public interest effectively.
* Aims to ensure more effective dissemination of its communication and information to citizens by recognizing print media's continued relevance.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Print Media Organizations**
* **Impact:** Print media organizations, including large, medium, and small newspapers, are affected by the revised advertisement rates. The rate revisions aim to provide enhanced revenue flows to sustain operations and strengthen local news ecosystems.
* **Action Required:** Adapt to the revised advertisement rates, including the implementation of premium rates for colour advertisements and preferential positioning. Focus on better content creation to serve public interest effectively.
**Stakeholder: Taxpayers**
* **Impact:** Taxpayer expenditure on publicity across Ministries is impacted by the 26 per cent hike.
* **Action Required:** No direct action, but will experience the change in publicity spending.
**Stakeholder: Government (Ministries)**
* **Impact:** Ministries are affected by the 26 percent increase in print advertisement rates, especially those facing budgetary constraints.
* **Action Required:** Adhere to the revised advertisement rates and adjust budgets accordingly.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting: The primary government body responsible for matters related to information and broadcasting in India, and the entity answering the questions raised.
9th Rate Structure Committee (RSC): Committee constituted to examine and recommend revisions in advertisement rates for print media.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1837
TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2025
FINANCIAL IMPACT ANALYSIS OF HIKE IN ADVERTISEMENT RATES
1837. SHRI SURESH KUMAR SHETKAR:
SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH:
SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B:
Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be please to state:
(a) whether the Government intends to clarify the approval of a sudden 26 per cent
hike in print-advertisement rates at a time when multiple Ministries are reportedly facing
budgetary constraints and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(b) whether the Government has conducted any financial impact analysis on the
manner in which this 26 per cent hike is likely to affect taxpayer expenditure on publicity
across Ministries and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government has evaluated that this hike disproportionately benefits
large media houses over small and medium newspapers and if so, the details thereof and
if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) whether the Government is likely to place in the public domain the full report of
the 9th Rate Structure Committee including dissent notes if any and if so, the details
thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(e) whether the Government has considered the possibility that increased
advertisement spending could be used as leverage to influence editorial independence of
newspapers and if so, the details thereof?ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION & BROADCASTING; AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
(DR. L. MURUGAN)
(a) to (e): The Government constituted the 9th Rate Structure Committee (RSC) on
11 November 2021 to examine and recommend revisions in advertisement rates for print
media.
The Committee consulted a wide range of stakeholders, including the Indian Newspaper
Society (INS), All India Small Newspapers Association (AISNA), Small-Medium-Big
Newspapers Society (SMBNS), and other representatives of large, media and small
publications.
The Committee assessed multiple cost parameters influencing print media operations,
such as newsprint cost escalation, inflationary trends, processing and production
expenses, employee wage liabilities, imported paper prices and other relevant inputs.
Based on these assessments, it submitted unanimous recommendations, which were
accepted by the Government.
The Government has agreed to the recommendations of the Committee including relating
to premium rates to be offered for colour advertisements, preferential positioning.
The revision of advertisement rates is commensurate with rising input costs and
increasing competition for the print media from digital platforms.
Enhanced revenue flows will help sustain operations and strengthen local news
ecosystems. Improved financial stability will also enable print media organisations to
invest in better content creation, thereby serving public interest more effectively.
By recognising the continued relevance of print media within a diversified media
landscape, the Government aims to ensure more effective dissemination of its
communication and information to citizens.
***