Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday announced the roll out of the Karnataka Digital Advertising Guidelines 2024 , in a pioneering move to enhance the state government’s digital presence. The initiative, headed by the department of information and public relations (DIPR), seeks to promote government schemes and policies through digital platforms in a more structured and impactful manner.
Describing the move as the first-of-its-kind in the country, the chief minister said the state has begun the process of empanelling digital media outlets and advertising agencies to support government communication through online channels.
“The nature of scope of digital media has changed over the years. With the growing use of PC, smart TVs and smart phones, use of social media has increased by leaps and bounds. Digital advertising has become more influential than traditional media and reaches far more people. The Karnataka government has brought out digital advertising guidelines to facilitate use of digital media and advertising for communication,” Siddaramaiah said in a press release.
As per the new guidelines, all state departments, boards, corporations, and local governing bodies must now route their digital advertising campaigns through the DIPR. This move ensures uniformity, accountability, and effectiveness in government-led digital communication.
Under the guidelines, eligible digital media entities, including online news portals and apps with at least one lakh downloads on Google Play or the Apple App Store, can apply for empanelment. They must be registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and have published content consistently for at least a year.
Similarly, digital advertising agencies must be at least two years old, legally registered, GST compliant, and maintain a physical office in Karnataka. In addition, agencies must have proven expertise in digital campaigns and hold official agreements with platforms such as Google and Meta.
The guidelines cover a wide range of digital channels, including search engines like Google and Bing, social media platforms like Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, and OTT platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ Hotstar.
The DIPR also retained the right to revoke empanelment if any entity fails to meet the guidelines or is found hosting illicit content.
Interested agencies and media outlets can apply via Seva Sindhu ( www.sevasindhu.karnataka.gov.in) by May 15, 2025, along with the necessary documentation and fees.
Describing the move as the first-of-its-kind in the country, the chief minister said the state has begun the process of empanelling digital media outlets and advertising agencies to support government communication through online channels.
“The nature of scope of digital media has changed over the years. With the growing use of PC, smart TVs and smart phones, use of social media has increased by leaps and bounds. Digital advertising has become more influential than traditional media and reaches far more people. The Karnataka government has brought out digital advertising guidelines to facilitate use of digital media and advertising for communication,” Siddaramaiah said in a press release.
As per the new guidelines, all state departments, boards, corporations, and local governing bodies must now route their digital advertising campaigns through the DIPR. This move ensures uniformity, accountability, and effectiveness in government-led digital communication.
Under the guidelines, eligible digital media entities, including online news portals and apps with at least one lakh downloads on Google Play or the Apple App Store, can apply for empanelment. They must be registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and have published content consistently for at least a year.
Similarly, digital advertising agencies must be at least two years old, legally registered, GST compliant, and maintain a physical office in Karnataka. In addition, agencies must have proven expertise in digital campaigns and hold official agreements with platforms such as Google and Meta.
The guidelines cover a wide range of digital channels, including search engines like Google and Bing, social media platforms like Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, and OTT platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ Hotstar.
The DIPR also retained the right to revoke empanelment if any entity fails to meet the guidelines or is found hosting illicit content.
Interested agencies and media outlets can apply via Seva Sindhu ( www.sevasindhu.karnataka.gov.in) by May 15, 2025, along with the necessary documentation and fees.
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