MAM
Verified print publications to get higher rates for DAVP ads
NEW DELHI: A new marking system has been introduced for the first time in the government’s advertisement policy to incentivise newspapers which have better professional standing and get their circulation verified by the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) or the Registrar of Newspapers in India (RNI). This will also ensure transparency and accountability in the release of advertisements by the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity which is the nodal advertising agency of the government.
The marking system is based on six objective criteria with different marks allotted to each criterion. The criterion includes circulation certified by ABC/RNI (25 marks), EPF subscription for employees (20 marks), number of pages (20 marks), subscription to wire services of UNI/PTI/Hindustan Samachar (15 marks), own printing press (10 marks), annual subscription payment to PCI (10 marks). Advertisements shall be released by DAVP to newspapers based on marks obtained by each newspaper.
The innovation is part of the new advertisement policy for the print media issued by the Information & Broadcasting ministry with the objective to promote transparency and accountability in issuing of advertisements in print media.
The policy focuses on streamlining release of government advertisements and to also promote equity and fairness among various categories of newspapers/periodicals. The key highlights of the policy are as follows:
The policy framework includes circulation verification procedure for empanelment of newspapers/journals with DAVP. The procedure involves certification by RNI/ABC if circulation exceeds 45,000 copies per publishing day. A certificate from Cost/Chartered Accountant/ Statutory Auditor Certificate/ ABC is mandated for circulation up to 45,000 copies per publishing day. The policy states that RNI circulation certificate shall be valid for a period of two years from the date of issue and in case of ABC, the current certificate shall be used for circulation certificate.
It is stated in the policy that the director general of DAVP reserves the right to have figures of circulation checked through RNI or its representative.
The policy also stipulates the empanelment procedure for multi-editions of a newspaper. It states that according to the Press and Registration of Books Act whenever copies of one edition of a newspaper are printed from more than one centre, the newspapers would be treated as different editions if the content is different. Each edition of a newspaper is required to have a separate RNI registration number and RNI shall treat each edition as separate entity while verifying the circulation.
However, the policy guidelines mention that if a newspaper is printing its copies of an edition in more than one printing press for sake of convenience without adding any additional content, DAVP may take the circulations of such printing centres into consideration for giving rate of that edition.
The policy framework provides a premium for prominent placing of ads in newspapers and journals whose circulation is certified by ABC/RNI. The directorate would pay a premium of 50 percent above DAVP rates for colour/black and white for front page, 20 percent premium to third page, 10 percent premium to fifth page and 30 percent premium for back page to only those newspapers whose circulation is certified by ABC/RNI.
The policy stipulates that the rate structure for payment against advertisements released by DAVP will be according to the recommendations of the Rate Structure Committee.
The policy has classified newspaper/journals into three categories namely small ( less than 25,000 copies per publishing day), medium (25,001-75,000 copies per publishing day) and big ( greater than 75,000 copies per publishing day).
Big category newspapers which are willing to publish the advertisements of educational Institutions at DAVP rates are being incentivised by giving additional business of 50 percent in volume terms as compared to those which are not willing to accept.
DAVP will release payment of advertisement bills in the name of newspaper/company account directly through ECS or NEFT.
A newspaper will publish DAVP advertisement only on receipt of the relevant release order by DAVP. All release orders issued can be accessed electronically at the DAVP website.
The new policy has structured the empanelment procedure to ensure fairness among various categories of newspapers/journals. The policy also mentions relaxation in empanelment procedure to provide special encouragement for regional language/dialect small and medium newspapers, mass circulated newspapers (circulation above 100,000), newspapers in North Eastern states, Jammu & Kashmir and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
DAVP has been asked to make efforts to release more social messages and related advertisements which are not date specific to periodicals.
To promote equity based regional outreach, the policy emphasizes that the budget for all India release of advertisements shall be divided among states based on total circulation of newspapers in each state /language.
Public sector undertakings and autonomous bodies may issue the advertisements directly at DAVP rates to newspapers empaneled with DAVP. However, they all have to follow the criteria laid down by DAVP for release of all classified and display advertisements in different categories of newspapers viz. small, medium and big.
To cut down on arrears, all clients of DAVP have been directed to issue Letter of Authority/cheque/ DD/NEFT/RTGS up to 80 percent of the actual expenditure in the previous year within the first month of the new financial year and clear all the remaining payments before 28 February of the financial year. Alternatively, the client ministries may provide 85 percent advance payments of the estimated expenditure of the advertisements.
Buying family medical insurance online in India has become a common option for individuals who want to secure health coverage for multiple family members under a single policy. However, many buyers are unsure about the exact steps involved in selecting and purchasing the right plan online.
In this guide, you will know the step-by-step process of buying family medical insurance online in India, along with the key factors to review before purchasing a suitable policy.
Step 1: Assess Your Family’s Healthcare Needs
Before buying online health insurance, check the healthcare needs of all family members. Check age, existing illnesses, regular medicines, and the likely need for hospital care later. This helps in selecting a suitable sum insured, policy type, and level of cover. It also reduces the chance of buying a plan that appears suitable but does not meet actual medical needs.
Step 2: Visit the Insurance Company’s Official Website
After understanding the family’s needs, visit the insurer’s official website and read the plan details carefully. Use the official platform to review eligibility, policy wording, waiting periods, cover details, exclusions, and renewal terms.
This step gives a clearer understanding of how the policy works before payment is made. It also helps avoid confusion caused by incomplete summaries on other pages.
Step 3: Compare Available Family Health Insurance Plans
A family medical insurance policy should be compared on factors beyond the premium. Review the sum insured, hospital network, room rent limits, pre- and post-hospitalisation cover, daycare treatment coverage, and waiting periods. It is also important to check treatment sub-limits and specific policy conditions.
Careful comparison helps determine whether a plan provides balanced coverage and whether its terms are suitable for the healthcare needs of the entire family.
Step 4: Choose the Right Policy and Start the Online Purchase
Once the options have been compared, select the policy that best fits the family’s medical needs and budget. Before starting the application, review the covered members, policy term, benefits, and main conditions again. This is an important stage because errors here can lead to the wrong cover amount, an unsuitable variant, or missing details that create problems during policy use.
Step 5: Calculate the Premium Using an Online Calculator
Use the online premium calculator before making the final choice. Enter the correct details, including age, city, number of insured members, and selected cover amount. The result helps in understanding the expected premium and whether the policy fits the annual budget. This step is useful because it allows cost and coverage to be reviewed together, instead of choosing a plan only because the premium looks lower.
Step 6: Fill in Personal and Medical Details
When filling in the proposal form, provide accurate details for each insured member. This includes name, date of birth, contact details, medical history, ongoing treatment, and previous insurance information if required.
Every answer should be complete and truthful. Incorrect or missing details can create difficulty later. Before you submit the form, read every section again and correct any mistakes.
Step 7: Make Payment Through the Secure Payment Gateway
After checking the form, go to the payment page and complete the transaction through the secure payment gateway. Review the premium, policy term, and entered details once more before confirming payment.
After the transaction is completed, save the receipt, reference number, or confirmation message carefully. Keeping this record is useful if you need to track the purchase or follow up on policy issuance later.
Step 8: Download and Keep Your Policy Document Safely
Once the policy is issued, download the policy document, schedule, and any related papers without delay. Read them carefully to confirm member names, policy period, sum insured, and major terms. Save a digital copy in a secure folder and keep a printed copy if needed. Proper record keeping makes future renewals, document checks, and policy servicing easier and more organised when information is required quickly.
Conclusion
Buying health cover online becomes easier when you handle each step with attention. From checking your family’s needs to reading the final document, every stage helps you make an informed choice. A careful approach can reduce mistakes, improve your understanding of policy terms, and help you choose coverage that matches your household’s medical needs, financial capacity, and long-term healthcare planning in a reliable way for your family over the long term.
