Govt hikes advert rates for print media by 25%

New Delhi: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced a hike of 25 per cent for print media advertisements on Tuesday with immediate effect.

The revision has been done 'over and above the existing rate structure' by the Bureau of Outreach and Communication (erstwhile DAVP), an official statement said. The last such revision was done in 2013, an increase of 19 per cent over and above the rates of 2010.

"This decision has been taken based on the recommendations of the 8th Rate Structure Committee constituted by I&B Ministry, which took into account several factors, including the increase in the price of newsprint, processing charges and other factors which go into the computation of advertisement rates," the government announced.

The decision further aims to benefit the medium and small newspapers including a large number of regional and vernacular papers, the ministry stressed.

In 2016, focusing on transparency and equity, the ministry framed print media advertisement policy- which incentivises big category newspapers, who are willing to publish advertisements of educational institutions at DAVP rates by giving additional business of 50 per cent in volume terms, as compared to those which are not willing to accept such terms.