Govt set to announce 26% increase in print ad rates

THE HIKE IS EXPECTED TO BE ANNOUNCED AFTER THE BIHAR POLLS, AS THE MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT PREVENTS POLICY ANNOUNCEMENTS

- Sejal Sharma

The central government is set to announce a 26% increase in advertisement rates for print media, the first major revision since 2019, people aware of the matter in the information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry.

The announcement is expected after the Bihar elections, with the Model Code of Conduct currently in force preventing policy announcements. The official attributed the plan to help the industry navigate volatility in ad revenue between print and digital media.

According to a second official, who asked not to be named, the last revision took place in January 2019, when the ministry announced a 25% hike over the rate structure set by the Bureau of Outreach and Communication, then known as DAVP.