The government spent Rs 132.4 crore on advertisements for Goods and Services Tax, an agency under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has said in reply to a Right to Information query.
The expenditure on GST advertisements through print media stood over Rs 126 crore, according to the Bureau of Outreach and Communication under the ministry. It, however, said there was “nil” expenditure for the same on electronic media.
For outdoor media, the expenditure for GST advertisement stood at Rs 5.44 crore, the bureau said in its RTI response dated Aug. 9, 2018. The bureau was replying to query on the sum spent by the Centre on advertising and awareness campaigns on GST.
GST was implemented on July 1, 2017. The Centre had gone for a media blitz to create awareness about the new tax regime ahead of its roll out.
The government started coming out with full-page advertisement in leading dailies explaining various procedures and processes to be followed by industry for complying with GST rules
The government had also roped in Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan as brand ambassador to promote GST and inform people about its benefits.
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