WORLD PRESS TRENDS - World Association of Newspapers

INDIA
Main economic indicators 1995-2001
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
1 US$= 47.19 Rupees at 2001 rate
Gross Domestic Product (Rupees billion)
at current prices 11,880 13,682 15,226 17,409 19,296 20,880 22,888
% change 17.6 15.2 11.3 14.3 10.8 8.2 9.6
at 2001 prices 17,737 18,741 19,466 19,661 20,816 21,648 22,888
% change 6.7 5.7 3.9 1.0 5.9 4.0 5.7
Gross Domestic Product per capita (Rupees 000)
at current prices 12.9 14.6 15.9 17.9 19.6 20.8 22.5
at 2001 prices 19.2 19.9 20.4 20.2 21.1 21.6 22.5
Population
Millions 922.0 939.5 955.2 970.9 986.6 1,002.1 1,017.5
Consumer Price Index
2001=100 67.0 73.0 78.2 88.5 92.7 96.5 100.0
% change 10.3 9.0 7.1 13.2 4.7 4.0 4.0
Ad.spend as a % of GDP
0.33 0.35 0.37 0.31 0.31 0.34 0.36
Advertising Expenditure Growth (%)
at current prices 18.7 20.9 19.0 -4.6 12.2 18.8 15.1
at 2001 prices 7.7 10.9 11.1 -15.7 7.2 14.2 11.0
Source: IFS, ZenithOptimedia
Research
Circulation is audited by: Audit Bureau of Circulation
Readership is measured by: National Readership Survey Council
Taxes
VAT on: sales 0 advertising 0
newsprint 0 plant 0
composition 0 (standard VAT rate 0)
Newsprint: only those who actually use newsprint may import
it, paying 5.5% custom duty.
Discounts
on: post - special tariff for registered newspapers
Ownership
Does any law exist governing publishing-house ownership, or the
registration of shares in newspaper-publishing companies No
Is there any law prohibiting or restricting foreign companies or
individuals from owning shares, and in particular, the majority of
shares, of daily newspapers Yes. No foreign company or
individual can be a shareholder in an Indian company that
publishes newspapers/periodicals. Under the Registration of
Books Act 1867 and the Registration of Newspapers (Central)
Rules 1956, details of all books and periodicals must be declared.
Under these rules the nationality of the publisher and editor
must be stated as well as details of all individuals holding more
than 1% of the total capital, to the Registrar of Newspapers of
India. If any foreign ownership is disclosed, the Registrar will
decline to register the newspaper/periodical.
Is there any law prohibiting daily newspaper or periodical publishers
from operating radio or television stations in the same locality The
question does not arise in respect of terrestrial TV and radio,
which is all state-owned. The Indian press may set up
newspapers wherever it wishes.
To guarantee disclosure and transparency in the capital structure and
to avert silent partnerships, is there a law or rule making it possible to
determine who actually owns a publishing company The law
requires annual publication of newspaper ownership, naming
the shareholders.
Is further regulation of media concentration expected No
WORLD ASSOCIATION OF NEWSPAPERS - WORLD PRESS TRENDS 2003 143