Private individuals own majority of newspapers in India: Govt

Private individuals own a majority of newspapers followed by joint stock companies, according to data available with the Information & Broadcasting Ministry.
In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today, I&B Minister Manish Tewari said out of 16,310 newspapers that furnished annual statements for 2011-12, individuals own 13,312 (81.57 per cent) of registered newspapers or periodicals.
As per the data shared by the minister joint stock companies own 2,091 (12.85 per cent), societies and associations own 406 (2.5 per cent), trusts own 317 (1.95 per cent) while firms and partnerships own 184 (1.13 per cent) of the registered newspapers or periodicals.

Tewari said that for the electronic media, permission was given to companies registered under the Companies Act, 1956.
He said that 152 community radio stations are operational currently of which 52 are run by NGOs, 89 by educational institutions and 11 by Krishi Vigyan Kendras.