Newspapers and other news and current affairs publications in the country may soon be able to appoint foreigners and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) at senior editorial and management positions without any prior permission from the government.
Earlier, the rules clearly stated that "prior clearance from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B) was necessary for employing any foreigners or NRIs".
Explaining the rationale behind this move, a senior I&B official said: "This was done at the request of newspaper industry. Clearances are still required and will have to be obtained. Only difference being that foreigners or NRIs can be employed while the process of obtaining clearances are on. Earlier, that was not the case."
But the entity will be liable to dispense with the services of such persons, if not found security cleared subsequently, a senior I&B ministry official explained.
According to the amendment, now newspapers and other periodicals will have to intimate the names and details of any foreigners/NRIs proposed to be employed in the company either as consultants (or in any other capacity) for more than 60 days in a year, or, as regular employees.
Earlier, the clause read as "all entities shall obtain prior clearance of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting" of any foreigners/NRIs proposed to be employed/engaged in the new entity, either as consultants (or in any other capacity) for more than 60 days in a year, or, as regular employees.