MUMBAI: Congress MP Manish Tewari, asked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to reveal details about the yearly amount spent by the Government of India (GOI) on print, broadcasting, social media and outdoor advertisements between 26 May 2014 and 30 September 2019 on 29 November. He also has asked for details about the amount spent on ads in foreign media.

Tewari inquired about the Government’s advertising share in the revenue streams of the top 20 Indian media firms between 04 April 2014 and 09 September 2014.

MIB minister Prakash Javadekar replied “The Bureau of Outreach and Communication (BOC) releases notices, tenders, auctions, recruitments, etc. and also undertakes awareness campaigns and dissemination of information about the government schemes and programmes through various media.”

Javadekar wrote in his reply that the details about the release of advertisements on various media between the said dates are available on BOC’s website.

He explained that the revelation of per sq cm rate of ads in print media has increased from Rs. 42.31 to Rs. 62.13, but the average per year print media space of advertisements given by the BOC between FY 2014-15 and 2018-19 has reduced during NDA’s rule from Rs. 11.88 crore sq cm to Rs. 10.95 crore sq cm in UPA II rule between FY 2009-10 and 2013-14.

Javadekar lastly said that GOI does not maintain details about the Indian media companies. He also emphasised that the Ministry does not issue advertisements in foreign newspapers and TV channels.