The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has approved a 26% increase in government advertisement rates for print media, raising the black-and-white ad rate from Rs 47.40 to Rs 59.68 per sq. cm for dailies with one lakh circulation.
The revision, announced by the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC), also introduces new premium charges for color advertisements and preferential positioning. This marks the first rate adjustment since January 2019, when the 8th Rate Structure Committee’s recommendations were implemented.
The 9th Rate Structure Committee, formed in November 2021 under the chairmanship of AS&FA (I&B), conducted the review over multiple sessions through August 2023. The panel consulted major newspaper associations including INS, AISNA, and SMBNS, analyzing factors such as newsprint inflation, wage structures, and processing costs before submitting recommendations in September 2023.
The government positioned the rate hike as crucial revenue support for print publishers facing rising operational expenses and competition from digital platforms, enabling them to maintain content quality and local news coverage while ensuring effective government outreach across media channels.
