Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, April 1

The government has distributed more than 937 million rupees in advertising revenue to newspapers over the past two financial years, underscoring the continued role of state spending in sustaining the region’s print media industry.

According to data presented in the legislative assembly, 382 publications are currently empaneled with the Directorate of Information and Public Relations, including 231 daily newspapers, 132 weeklies and 19 monthly publications.

Government advertising totaled 473.4 million rupees in 2023-24 and 463.6 million rupees in 2024-25, with daily newspapers receiving the largest share of the allocations in both years. Weeklies and monthlies accounted for a smaller portion of the spending.

Officials said the empanelment system is intended to ensure broad dissemination of government information while providing financial support to media organizations, particularly smaller and regional outlets that rely heavily on such revenue streams.

“The advertisements are an important source of income for many publications,” the government said in its response, noting their role in sustaining operations in a challenging media environment.

The government also outlined welfare measures for journalists under a program introduced by the federal Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in 2023, aimed at providing additional support to members of the profession.

The disclosures highlight the close financial ties between the state and the press in the region, where public advertising remains a key pillar of the media economy.