The Director Information & Public Relations, Govt. of Punjab on January 20, 2026, issued the Advertisement Policy, 2026.
The following has been stated namely: -
• The policy establishes a centralized and uniform framework for the release of government advertisements to achieve the widest possible public outreach.
• The policy classifies advertisements into Category-1 (statutory, tenders, vacancies, notices) and Category-2 (mass campaigns, policies, socio-economic concerns, events), prescribes applicable BOC/DIPR/commercial rates, and provides a 15% trade discount.
• It lays down detailed norms for the empanelment of newspapers and publications, including circulation thresholds, regularity, content standards, and compliance with the Press & Registration of Books Act, 1867.
• The policy ensures fairness by prioritizing small, medium, regional, and Punjabi-language publications, mandates timely bill submission and payments, and provides strict conditions for suspension and recovery in case of violations.
• It also sets clear guidelines on advertisement content, prohibits political promotion, regulates use of photographs, and allows limited exemptions with approval, thereby ensuring transparency, accountability, cost-efficiency, and public-interest-oriented communication by the State Government.
[Notification no. - PR I/1294777/2026]
