Financials
DD begins work on next year’s govt. funding
NEW DELHI: India’s television pubcaster Doordarshan, managed by Prasar Bharati, has begun an annual exercise to convey to the government the level of funding it could need for next financial year beginning April 1, 2017.
While directing the various units and centres under DD to send in their financial demands, a communiqué from the DD Directorate clarified that such budgeting should not include any (financial) provisions for vacant posts.
Prasar Bharati, which runs DD and All India Radio, like many other public broadcasters of the world, is funded with public money that the government allocates to it as part of the country’s annual budgetary
proposals.
The official communication from DD head office added that any liabilities from previous year’s budgetary support should be detailed, including separately listing reasons for exceeding allocated budgets for the financial year 2015-16 as also enumerating the likely effect that payment of certain government allowances, bonuses and increased payout to employees likely to have.
It is estimated that Prasar Bharati has around 40,000 employees on its rolls.
Though Prasar Bharat is an autonomous organisation, formed under an Act of Parliament of 1990 that was notified only in 1997 paving the way for its formal set up, a majority of its employees are still categorised as government officials, a hangover of pre-Prasar Bharati days when DD and AIR were media units of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB). Hence, any revision of pay scales for government officials, as notified earlier this year, has an effect of Prasar Bharati officials too.
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DD sets up ‘War Room’ to revitalise programming & revenues
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.
