₹910 Crore Spent On Print Advertisements Over Five Years
The Central Government spent ₹910 crore on print advertisements between 2020-21 and 2024-25, according to information obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) request.
The expenditure was made through the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) for publishing government advertisements across newspapers in multiple languages. The data provides a detailed picture of how public funds were allocated among media organisations during the five-year period.
Times Of India Received The Highest Advertising Revenue
Among all newspaper groups, the Times of India emerged as the biggest beneficiary, receiving approximately ₹104 crore worth of government advertisements during the five-year period.
Other leading newspaper groups also received substantial advertising allocations, reflecting the government’s continued reliance on print media to publicise its schemes, policies, and public awareness campaigns across the country.
Government Advertising Supports Multiple Campaigns
The advertisements covered a wide range of government initiatives, including welfare schemes, public awareness campaigns, policy announcements, health programmes, and national events.
Print media continues to remain an important communication channel, particularly for reaching readers across different states and regional language markets despite the rapid growth of digital media.
RTI Data Highlights Advertising Distribution
The RTI response provides a breakdown of advertising expenditure across various newspaper organisations, offering greater transparency into how government advertising budgets are distributed.
The figures also show the continued importance of established newspaper groups in disseminating official government information to the public.
Debate Over Public Advertising Spending Continues
The disclosure has once again sparked discussions over government advertising expenditure and its distribution among media organisations. While governments use advertisements to communicate public schemes and policy initiatives, such spending often attracts scrutiny regarding allocation patterns, transparency, and the effective use of taxpayer funds.
Summary
The Central Government spent ₹910 crore on print advertisements between 2020-21 and 2024-25, according to RTI data. The Times of India received the highest share at around ₹104 crore. The expenditure was routed through the Central Bureau of Communication for promoting government schemes, public awareness campaigns, and policy announcements across newspapers in multiple languages.
