MAM
Government okays FII investment in news ventures
NEW DELHI: The Indian government today formally decided to allow publication of facsimile edition of foreign newspapers in the country as also investments by non-resident Indians (NRIs) and foreign financial institutions (FIIs) in news ventures in print and TV.
However, the total foreign investment, including FDI, NRI, overseas corporate bodies (OCBs) and FIIs, in a news venture in both the media remains capped at 26 per cent.
At meeting today, chaired by prime minister Manmohan Singh, the Union cabinet allowed publication of facsimile editions of foreign newspapers and journals in India, minus local ads or content.
This would mean that London’s Financial Times, for example, could re-print an edition in India without covering local Indian news or advertisements.
However, if there’s a report filed by the India correspondent of FT for the London edition, that report could be carried.
Briefing journalists today after the Cabinet meeting, information and
broadcasting minister Jaipal Reddy said it has also been decided to increase the syndication limit of the total printed area from the present 7.5 per cent to 20 per cent under the automatic route.
The minister added that the changes would be incorporated through amendments in the PRB Act with a view to give legal backing to the Cabinet decisions.
Asked whether allowing facsimile editions would mean a threat for the Indian newspapers, Reddy ruled out any such thing happening as the facsimile editions of foreign newspapers would have access to local news and ads.
Listed media companies like Television Eighteen Ltd, Zee Telefilms and NDTV have been lobbying with the government to clarify its position on the issue of FII investments in broadcast ventures.
This has been one of the reasons why companies like Zee Telefilms and TV 18 have not yet managed to restrucuture their news operations. Government norms for uplink state that in any TV news venture, uplinking from India, total foreign investment should be capped at 26 per cent, which is not yet the case with Zee News and CNBC TV 18.
Contrary to expectation, proposed changes in the FM radio broadcast policy, which is pending with the Cabinet secretariat, could not find a place on the agenda of today’s meeting.
Reddy could not give a time frame for the radio policy to be taken up by the Cabinet, though he admitted that a note has been sent by the ministry for the Cabinet’s consideration.
Brands
FSS names Anand Krishnamurthi head of global digital delivery
Tech veteran to drive AI-first, cloud-led transformation in payments globally
CHENNAI: Financial Software and Systems (FSS), an AI-first payment infrastructure company, has appointed Anand Krishnamurthi as head of global digital delivery.
In his new role, Anand Krishnamurthi will lead FSS’s global digital delivery capabilities, focusing on AI-first and cloud-led transformation while ensuring predictable, high-quality outcomes for customers worldwide. He will be based in Chennai and report to V. Balasubramanian, CEO of FSS.
Bringing 28 years of experience in technology and digital transformation across banking, capital markets, financial services, and insurance, Anand has held senior leadership positions at Cognizant and NuSummit. He is recognised for scaling multi-geography delivery teams, leading mission-critical platforms, and embedding AI-driven automation in complex, regulated environments.
“What drew me to FSS is its deep payments expertise, strong product DNA, and the scale at which its platforms power real-world financial ecosystems,” said Anand Krishnamurthi. “I aim to strengthen delivery predictability, execution rigor, and engineering quality, building empowered teams that deliver measurable customer outcomes. FSS has a unique opportunity to create real-time, AI-infused payments infrastructure that is resilient, secure, and globally scalable.”
V. Balasubramanian added, “Anand’s track record in leading multi-geography delivery programs and AI-first operating models makes him the ideal leader for FSS as we accelerate our AI-driven digital payments business. His leadership will help us raise the bar for outcomes globally.”
This appointment is part of FSS’s broader push to build an AI-powered, cloud-native delivery organisation capable of meeting the evolving needs of banks, fintechs, and financial institutions worldwide.
