New Delhi, November 17, 2025: The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has approved a 26% hike in government advertisement rates for print media, marking a significant move to bolster traditional news outlets. Under the revised rates, black-and-white advertisements in daily newspapers with a circulation of 1 lakh will now be billed at ₹59.68 per sq cm, up from ₹47.40.
The ministry also accepted recommendations to charge premium rates for colour advertisements and offer preferential placements, aiming to improve revenue streams for print publications. The rise in advertisement rates comes as a response to increased competition from digital media and the rising cost inflation in newsprint and production.
This is the first such revision since 2019, carried out on the basis of the 9th Rate Structure Committee’s review, which was established in November 2021. The committee assessed the rising costs in the print industry before recommending the increase.
According to the ministry’s statement, the increase will help the government secure reliable advertisement placements while providing newspapers vital funding to maintain quality journalism and support local news initiatives. It added that stronger financial stability in the print sector will allow investment in better content, benefiting the public at large.
The move also aligns with the government’s broader efforts to maintain the viability of legacy media amid challenging market conditions.
