No change in country's media policy: I&B Ministry

New Delhi, Jun 12 (PTI) Denying any change in the
country's media policy, the Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting Thursday said that it has no proposal with it,
which allows foreign news magazines to print their Indian
editions.
"There is no such proposal with the ministry which allows
foreign news magazines to print their Indian version," a
senior ministry official told P.T.I.
Recent media reports had indicated that the ministry had
proposed that the content of the Indian edition could be upto
100 percent identical to foreign magazines. Also that the
Indian publisher be allowed to add local content as well as
advertisements.
The reports had also mentioned that the said proposal by
the ministry is also being sent for Cabinet's approval.
The official said that government's guidelines on print
media are already available on the ministry's website and
there is no change in them.
As per the current guidelines, only foreign scientific,
technical and magazines dealing in specialised issues, are
allowed to print their Indian editions. For this, these
publications need to have 100 percent investment in an
Indian registered publishing firm.
The rules also say that Indian editions of foreign news
and current affairs magazines are not allowed, but foreign
investors can take 26 percent equity in Indian magazines.
Though this permission can only be given to Indian companies,
registered under the Indian Companies Act, where the largest
Indian shareholder should have 51 percent of the paid up
equity.
Apart from this, facsimile copies of foreign newspapers
are allowed in the country, but without local content or
advertisements.
Official sources said that with such guidelines already
existing on print media, no change in them has been proposed
by the ministry.