Start your day with foreign newspapers

And there are enough safeguards to protect the domestic newspapers. They are: no local content and advertising; the foreign papers will be required to tie-up with an Indian partner before they become operational and the approval of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry is must. “This is because of apprehensions that the Indian newspaper industry will not be able to withstand competition,” I&B Minister Jaipal Reddy said.

“The rationale behind this decision was to provide Indian citizens with the right to information internationally. They are already getting such information through the internet and foreign channels,” Reddy said, clarifying that Indian editions of foreign newspapers are not being permitted at the moment.

Along with facsimile editions, the Cabinet has also decide to increase the syndication limit of the total printed area to 20 per cent from the current 7.5 per cent, under the automatic route. The decision on the facsimile editions, will necessitate changes in the 19th century Press and Registration of Books (PRB) Act, to give a legal backing to the Cabinet decision, and has been taken in light of the publication of the International Herald Tribune by publishers Midram. The paper published in Hyderabad, forced the Government to take a fresh look at the PRB Act, which prohibits the registration of foreign titles by foreign newspapers.

Also, being considered is a proposal to allow FIIs to invest in news channels while keeping the cap at 26 per cent, which is likely to figure in the decision on easing uplinking norms.

Reddy said the ceiling on foreign investment of 26 per cent would remain and same will be applicable to news channels as well.