[icernet] Govt allays fears on FDI in print media

[Arul Selvan]

  Asserting security and other concerns of the country will be kept 
uppermost while allowing FDI in print media, Government Monday told the 
Rajya Sabha that approval had been given to two of the five proposals 
received for starting an Indian edition of foreign specialised magazines.

The approvals have been given in the non-news non-current affairs 
category, while no proposal has yet been received for FDI in newspapers, 
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said during 
Question Hour.
In reply to a query whether the government would reconsider the policy 
of allowing only Indian news agencies owned and managed by Indians to 
distribute news of foreign news agencies within the country, he said 
there was a need for consultation on this issue. "It is felt necessary 
to consult mediapersons and industry connected with the news agencies in 
order to ascertain if 1956 policy on news agencies needs a detailed 
review given the rapid technological and other changes noticed in the 
meantime," he said in a written reply.

PTI
24 Feb 2003