Lok Sabha Question No. 4178 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-18
Subject: Expenditure by the Government on Advertisements
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Shri Babu Singh Kushwaha, Ms Iqra Choudhary, Shri Neeraj Maurya, Shri Devesh Shakya, Ms. Mahua Moitra, Shri Pushpendra Saroj, Adv Priya Saroj

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4178 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2026

## EXPENDITURE BY THE GOVERNMENT ON ADVERTISEMENTS

## 4178.  MS. IQRA CHAUDHARY

SHRI BABU SINGH KUSHWAHA:

MS. MAHUA MOITRA:

SHRI PUSHPENDRA SAROJ:

SHRI NEERAJ MAURYA:

ADV PRIYA SAROJ:

SHRI DEVESH SHAKYA:

Will the Minister of INFORMATION & BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  total  expenditure  incurred  by  the  Government  on  advertisements  of Government schemes and policies on various platforms since 2014, year, scheme, print, TV, social  and  digital  media  platforms,  Ministry  and  campaign-wise  along  with  the  funds allocated therefore;
- (b) the number of media organisations included in the panel during the said period;
- (c)  the  year-wise  share  of  top 10, top 20  and  remaining  organisations  in  the  total advertisement expenditure along with the objective criteria for this allocation;
- (d)  the  details  of  top  10  newspapers,  TV  channels  and  social  media  platforms  in terms  of amount  spent  by  the  Government  on  advertising  Government  policies  and  schemes  since financial year 2023, year-wise;
- (e) whether any year recorded a significant increase in advertisement expenditure compared to previous years and if so, the administrative reasons therefor;
- (f) the total number of audit observations, Parliamentary Questions, complaints and formal representations received relating to bias, monopoly or lack of transparency in advertisement allocation; and
- (g)  the  corrective  policy  and  transparency  measures  implemented  to  ensure  fair  and transparent allocation of Government advertisements?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION & BROADCASTING; AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (DR. L. MURUGAN)

## (a) to (g):

The  Government,  through  Central  Bureau  of  Communication,  undertakes  dissemination  of information regarding  its  policies,  programs  and  schemes  through  various  media  platforms including print, electronic, outdoor, digital and social media to ensure that citizens are aware of and can benefit from Government policies/schemes.

Expenditure  on  advertisements  of  Government  policies,  programmes,  and  schemes  is incurred in accordance with the requirements of various Ministries and Departments of the Government of India.

Central  Bureau  of  Communication  (CBC)  empanels  various  media  agencies  from  time  to time as per the policy guidelines. The list of empaneled agencies is dynamic in nature and is subject to review from the time as per policy guidelines.

The details of year-wise advertisement expenditure are available on the website of CBC i.e. www.davp.nic.in . This allocation is done based on extant policy guidelines.

The details of all newspapers, TV channels and social media platforms in terms of amount spent  by  the  Government  on  advertising  Government  policies  and  schemes  since  financial year 2023, year-wise are also available on the website of CBC i.e. www.davp.nic.in .

The  Government  has  put  in  place  detailed  guidelines  and  procedures  for  the  release  of advertisements  to  ensure  transparency,  fairness  and  accountability.  Representations,  audit observations, complaints are dealt in accordance with these policies. These policy guidelines are available on the website of CBC i.e. www.davp.nic.in .

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