Question : DEVELOPMENT OF PRINT MEDIA

(a) whether the Government have taken fresh initiatives to simplify and streamline the procedure regarding clearance of huge back-log of title clearance for periodicals/newspapers;

(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith present status of pending titles, State-wise;

(c) the details of the steps taken recently for development of print media and impact thereof; and

(d) the details of other major decisions/changes in advertisement policy etc. under consideration including foreign direct investment for print media?

THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING AND MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW, JUSTICE AND COMPANY AFFAIRS (SHRI ARUN JAITLEY)

(a) & (b) An exercise to de-block the titles, which were blocked by publishers without being used, was undertaken in a phased manner from the year 1998. As on 31.3 2000, nearly 1.87 lakh titles have been de-blocked. There is no back log of applications for title verification, pending with Registrar of Newspapers for India, as on 31.7.2000.

(c) Much of print media consisting of newspapers and journals is in the private sector. As such Government has not taken specific steps for development of print media.

(d) A Group of Ministers has been constituted to review existing sectoral policies and sectoral equity caps and decide necessary changes with respect to foreign investment in various sectors including the advertising sector. At present, foreign direct investment in the advertising sector is permissible upto 74% of the paid up equity, under the automatic approval route. Foreign direct investment in the print media sector continues to be guided by the 1955 Cabinet decision, which prohibits publication of foreign owned newspapers/periodicals and publication of Indian editions of foreign newspapers/periodicals dealing mainly with news and current affairs.