Financials
Prasar Bharati gets Rs 3.3 billion loan to set up broadcast centre for Commonwealth Games
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NEW DELHI: Prasar Bharati is to get a loan of Rs 3.26 billion towards setting up an ‘International Broadcasting Centre’ and other facilities as a host broadcaster for the Commonwealth Games 2010.
This is in addition to the grant-in-aid to the tune of Rs 11.42 billion, according to the Union Budget for 2008-09 presented to Parliament today by Finance Minister P Chidambaram.
The loan will also be aimed at meeting the capital expenditure of the public service broadcaster.
In a major decision taken during the presentation of budget for 2000-2001, the then Government had announced that since Prasar Bharati was an autonomous organisation, it would only receive grants-in-aid and loans from the total budget of the Information and Broadcasting ministry.
This year’s loan is almost two times the revised estimate of Rs 1.67 billion (as against the allocation in the budget of Rs 2.17 billion) in the Budget for 2007-08. Similarly, the grant-in-aid last year was Rs 10.87 billion.
The total budget allocation for the I&B ministry in the Budget for 2008-09 is Rs 19.10 billion as against Rs 16.10 billion in the revised estimates for 2007-08.
There is a marginal increase in the allocation for films from Rs 718.5 million in the revised estimates for 2007-08 to Rs 848.5 million in the Budget presented today. In addition, there is an allocation of Rs 46.6 million for film certification. The budgetary allocation for films is aimed at covering the Films Division, the Directorate of Film Festivals that organised national and international film festivals, the Children’s Film Society, India, and the training institutes in Pune and Kolkata.
The National Films Development Corporation, which recently resumed investment in film production, is to receive a loan of Rs 80 million.
While the ministry had only used Rs 501.4 million of the budgetary grant of Rs 848 million on advertising and visual publicity during 2007-08, the allocation has been raised to Rs 743.6 million in the new budget.
Interestingly, the allocation of Rs 358.5 million for Press Information Services includes funds for a subsidy for running India’s news pool desk of non-aligned news agencies pool through the Press Trust of India despite the fact that the news pool has been non-existent for several years.
Though Chidambaram said the Northeast would continue to receive special attention, the lumpsum provision for projects/schemes for development of the region and Sikkim has come down from the Rs 190.2 million (as against the Rs 205.2 million in the budget for 2007-08) to Rs 179.6 million in the new budget.
There is a provision of Rs 30 million to the Electronic Media Monitoring Centre for monitoring TV channels and radio stations for violation of programme and advertising codes. The provision in the budget had been Rs 59 million but the EMMC had used only Rs 30 million, according to the revised estimates for 2007-08.
MUMBAI: It’s time to brief the markets: Page Industries is showing that even when regulations tighten, it can still keep its footing in the innerwear business. The Bengaluru-based apparel major has reported its financials for the quarter ended 31 December 2025, delivering a performance that remains steady and well put together.
The company’s top line showed plenty of elasticity this quarter. Revenue from operations stretched to Rs 1,38,675.71 lakhs, a healthy jump from the Rs 1,29,085.82 lakhs reported in the preceding quarter. Compared to the same period last year, which stood at Rs 1,31,305.10 lakhs, it’s clear the brand’s grip on the market isn’t loosening. Total income for the quarter, including other finance gains, reached a comfortable Rs 1,39,919.03 lakhs.
However, it wasn’t all smooth silk. The Government of India’s new unified Labour Codes, covering everything from wages to social security, officially kicked in on 21 November 2025. This regulatory shift forced Page Industries to account for a one-time “exceptional item” cost of Rs 3,500.42 lakhs to cover incremental employee benefits and related obligations. Despite this Rs 35-crore legislative snag, the underlying business remained robust. Profit before tax stood at Rs 25,625.35 lakhs after the exceptional hit, and without that one-off cost, the figure would have been a more muscular Rs 29,125.77 lakhs. Net profit for the quarter came in at Rs 18,953.64 lakhs.
Total expenses rose to Rs 1,10,793.26 lakhs, driven largely by raw material consumption of Rs 30,162.65 lakhs and employee benefits of Rs 23,310.66 lakhs. Even so, the company’s operational strength ensured the bottom line remained firmly stitched together.
For shareholders, the news is particularly “fitting.” The Board has declared a third interim dividend for 2025-26 of Rs 125 per equity share. The record date has been set for 11 February 2026, with the payment scheduled on or before 6 March 2026. This follows two previous interim dividends of Rs 150 and Rs 125 declared earlier in the financial year, reinforcing the company’s commitment to sharing the spoils of its success.
Looking at the nine-month stretch ending December 2025, Page Industries has amassed total income of Rs 4,04,090.59 lakhs, with total comprehensive income of Rs 58,231.49 lakhs. While the basic earnings per share for the quarter dipped slightly to Rs 169.93, compared to Rs 183.48 in the same quarter last year, the year-to-date EPS remains a solid Rs 524.57.
Auditors at S.R. Batliboi & Associates LLP have given the results a “limited review” thumbs up, reporting no material misstatements. It seems that, as far as Page Industries is concerned, the business remains as well-constructed as its famous Jockey briefs.
