Government hikes print ad rates by 26 per cent

MUMBAI: The government has fired up the print market with a sharp 26 per cent hike in advertisement rates, giving newspapers a long-awaited financial shot in the arm as they battle spiralling costs and fierce competition from digital rivals.

Media rates for black and white ads in dailies, calculated per sq cm for one lakh copies, have been raised from Rs 47.40 to Rs 59.68. The government has also cleared the committee’s call for premium pricing on colour ads and preferential placements, in a bid to align state communication with the real economics of print.

The last revision dates back to 2019, when the 8th Rate Structure Committee set prices for a three-year cycle. Since then, inflation has bitten hard, newsrooms have thinned, and print houses have struggled to keep operations viable.

Officials say the bump will help steady the sector. Higher state-ad rates will give publishers critical revenue support, protect local newsrooms and enable investments in quality content, especially at a time when digital platforms divert attention and advertisers.

For the government, the revision sharpens communication effectiveness across a diverse media landscape, ensuring campaigns reach citizens through trusted and established channels.

With the new rates locked in, the print industry finally has wind in its sails and it is gearing up to turn that tailwind into fresh momentum.