New Delhi: The Times of India emerged as the largest recipient of the Union government’s print advertising expenditure between FY2020-21 and FY2024-25, according to data tabled in the Lok Sabha by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB).
The ministry, responding to a question from Congress MP Radhakrishna, disclosed that the Centre spent a total of Rs 910.4 crore on print media advertisements during the five-year period.
Among newspaper groups, the Times of India received Rs 78.22 crore, the highest allocation, followed by Dainik Jagran with Rs 59.14 crore and Hindustan Times at Rs 47.80 crore. Other significant beneficiaries included Amar Ujala (Rs 24.92 crore), Hindustan (Rs 21.56 crore), Dainik Bhaskar (Rs 20.53 crore) and The Indian Express (Rs 6.51 crore).
A year-wise analysis of the expenditure shows that the Times of India retained the top position in every financial year covered by the data. The publication received Rs 17.87 crore in FY2020-21, Rs 16.95 crore in FY2021-22, Rs 21.01 crore in FY2022-23, Rs 16.32 crore in FY2023-24 and Rs 6.04 crore in FY2024-25.
Dainik Jagran’s allocations stood at Rs 13.04 crore, Rs 12.40 crore, Rs 16.08 crore, Rs 12.81 crore and Rs 4.80 crore across the five financial years. Hindustan Times received Rs 12.66 crore, Rs 11.25 crore, Rs 13.88 crore, Rs 9.10 crore and Rs 4.21 crore during the same period.
Amar Ujala’s share of government advertising amounted to Rs 4.73 crore in FY2020-21, Rs 5.19 crore in FY2021-22, Rs 7.37 crore in FY2022-23, Rs 7.18 crore in FY2023-24 and Rs 2.42 crore in FY2024-25.
The latest figures follow an earlier disclosure by the Centre in Parliament, which showed that the government spent Rs 5,987.46 crore on advertising across print, electronic and digital media over the eleven financial years from FY2014-15 to FY2024-25. The expenditure translates to an average daily outlay of nearly Rs 1.5 crore on public communication during the period.
The parliamentary response also highlighted a rise in advertising expenditure ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Government ad spending reached Rs 353.98 crore in FY2023-24, before moderating slightly to Rs 323.41 crore in FY2024-25.
Government advertising campaigns are intended to promote welfare programmes, policy initiatives and public awareness drives. However, the expenditure has frequently attracted criticism from opposition parties, which argue that such campaigns primarily serve to enhance the BJP’s political messaging and strengthen the personal brand of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, particularly in the run-up to elections.
