As per DAVP Print Media Advertisement Policy, a Rate Structure Committee (RSC) is to be constituted every three years for consideration of revision of Print Media Rates of Newspapers/Periodicals. The recommendations of RSC are examined in this Ministry in consultation with Ministry of Finance and a revised rate card is finalized accordingly.
The 5th Rate Structure Committee (RSC) was constituted on 22.11.2004. On the basis of the recommendations of Fifth Rate Structure Committee (RSC), the rate card for Print Media Advertisement was issued in 2005 and these rates were valid from 1st January, 2006 for a three years, i.e. upto 31st December, 2008.
The 6th RSC was constituted in 2008 to consider the revision of Print Media Advertisement Rates. However, since the RSC could not submit its recommendations in time, a proposal for grant of interim hike was considered in this Ministry in consultation with Ministry of Finance. Later on, based on the recommendations of the 6th RSC, the Print Media Advertisement Rate Card of DAVP was finalized and was made effective with effect from 15.10.2010.
These rates were effective for a period of three years, i.e. upto 14.10.2013 and so the 7th RSC was constituted in this Ministry on 31.5.2013. The Committee is having its meetings with all concerned and stakeholders in this regard and is likely to submit its recommendations very soon. The recommendations of the Rate Structure Committee will be examined in this Ministry and a final decision in this regard is likely to take some more time.
The validity of last rate card which was effective upto 14.10.2013 and the new Print Media Advertisement Rate Card of DAVP could not be finalized by then, pending submission of the recommendations of 7th RSC. The Ministry received a number of representation from various stakeholders and DAVP for grant of immediate interim relief in the Print Media Rate Card of DAVP to meet out the , pending revision of rate card on the basis of recommendations of 7th RSC.
Accordingly, a proposal for grant of an interim hike was considered in this Ministry, in consultation with Ministry of Finance and the Election Commission of India. It has now been decided in this Ministry to grant an interim hike of 19% in the existing rates of DAVP for its Print Media Advertisement. This interim hike will be effective w.e.f. 15.10.2013 and till a revised Print Media Advertisement Rate Structure of DAVP is finalized on the basis of the recommendations of 7th Rate Structure Committee.
The stakeholders are requested to co-operate with the Rate Structure Committee so that its recommendations may be finalized at the earliest.
