No change in stand on FDI in print: Swaraj

new delhi: information & broadcasting minister sushma swaraj on friday denied any move by the government to allow 26 per cent foreign direct investment in periodicals. the minister said that the government would maintain a status quo in respect of its stand on allowing fdi in print. “the parliamentary standing committee on information technology is looking into this matter and we would go by the report of the committee,� she said. the committee is expected to submit its report in the coming budget session of parliament. swaraj said that the prime minister’s office has not made any recommendation on the matter. the government follows a 1955 cabinet decision that debars any fdi in print media. reports in a section of the media said the pmo had approved allowing 26 per cent fdi in periodicals, including weeklies, fortnightlies and monthlies. however, the pmo has issued a denial on the matter. the i&b ministry had had last year put forward a proposal to the cabinet for opening up fdi in non-news and non-current affairs periodical. but the cabinet decided to go by the decision of the standing committee in this matter.