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.

23 complaints about indecent depiction of women in ads: I & B Min

There have been 23 complaints about indecent depiction of women in ads to the Advertisement Standard Council of India (ASCI) in 2012-13 and 10 of these cases were upheld.

This information was shared in the Lok Sabha by Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari in a written reply to a question.

As per the information provided by Tewari the number of such complaints was 18 of which 8 were upheld in 2011-12.

In a reply to another question, the minister said that Prasar Bharati constantly reviewed the content, quality and popularity including TRPs.

He said that as per the TAM report for General Entertainment channels during the period July 14 to July 20, 2013, DD National was placed fourth in the ratings.