Bhajanlal govt releases Rajasthan Film Tourism Promotion Policy–2025

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Jaipur, Dec 24 (IANS) The Bhajanlal government on Wednesday released the proposed Rajasthan Film Tourism Promotion Policy–2025, marking a significant step towards positioning the state as a preferred destination for national and international film productions.

Releasing the policy, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma said Rajasthan’s rich cultural heritage, desert landscapes, historic forts, palaces and diverse natural locations are world-class, and the new policy would help establish the state as a major filming hub while generating employment and skill-development opportunities for the youth.

Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari said the policy focuses not only on providing subsidies to filmmakers but also on simplifying administrative processes to ensure ease of doing business and smooth implementation.

Under the policy, filmmakers will be eligible for subsidies of up to 30 per cent of the expenditure incurred on shooting feature films, web series, TV serials and documentaries in Rajasthan.

The maximum subsidy has been capped at Rs 3 crore for feature films, Rs 2 crore for web series, Rs 1.5 crore for TV serials and Rs 2 crore for documentaries.

To avail the incentive, a minimum expenditure of Rs 2 crore for feature films and Rs 1 crore for web series, TV serials and Rajasthani-language films in the state will be mandatory.

Subsidies will be linked to the extent of Rajasthan locations featured on screen, with higher incentives for productions providing greater screen time to the state.

Films completing at least 50 per cent of their shooting days in Rajasthan will be eligible for subsidies up to 30 per cent, while productions shot entirely in the state will receive an additional five per cent incentive within the prescribed limits.

The policy also provides for 100 per cent reimbursement of permission fees for up to five days for shooting at locations under the control of the State and Central governments.

Special incentives have been announced for award-winning films, with feature films shot in Rajasthan receiving up to Rs 1 crore for international awards and up to Rs 50 lakh for National Film Awards.

To promote skill development, scholarships will be provided to students from Rajasthan studying at premier institutions such as the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata, and the National School of Drama, New Delhi, with 10 students selected annually for full tuition fee assistance up to Rs 50,000 and a monthly stipend of up to Rs 5,000.

The Tourism Department will prepare a comprehensive directory of shooting locations across the state and develop a dedicated online portal listing producers, directors, actors, technicians, musicians, choreographers and line producers, making it a one-stop platform for filmmakers.

Films availing subsidies will be required to meet minimum theatrical release norms, including release on 200 screens for Hindi films, 25 screens for Rajasthani films and 100 screens for films in other languages, and will be mandated to credit the Rajasthan State Government and the Tourism Department.

–IANS

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They have also been barred from holding any key position in a listed company for up to five years.

According to the SEBI investigation, the main culprits involved in the fraudulent scheme were Kapil Wadhawan and his brother Dheeraj, who have been fined Rs 27 crore each. Rakesh Wadhawan, who was Non-Executive Chairman, and Sarang Wadhawan, a former Non-Executive Director, were also involved through their roles on DHFL’s board and face penalties of Rs 20.75 crore each. Besides, Harshil Mehta, who was Joint Managing Director & CEO and Santosh Sharma, a former CFO of the company, have been fined Rs 11.75 crore and Rs 12.75 crore, respectively.

The SEBI has stated in its order that since 2006, DHFL, along with its promoters, directors, and key managerial personnel, have engaged and participated in an “egregiously fraudulent scheme” to divert funds to “Bandra Book Entities” (BBEs) linked to the promoters. DHFL’s loans to BBEs rose to a staggering Rs 14,040.5 crore by March 31, 2019.

The order states that the promoters issued huge unsecured loans to these entities despite the fact that they did not have any assets or business. These loans were also falsely recorded as retail housing loans.

The investigation has found that the modus operandi involved was to first extend large unsecured loans to these BBEs, even though they had no net worth, assets, or cash flows to justify such exposure. Second, all standard loan appraisal processes were deliberately bypassed.

Third, these weak intercorporate loans to related parties were misrepresented as retail housing loans, creating a false impression of the company’s financial health for investors and other stakeholders.

“To effect this elaborate deception, a fake virtual branch (‘Bandra branch’) and previously closed retail loan accounts were employed, alongside three different accounting software, camouflaging the BBE loans as retail housing loans. In the initial years, well over 30 per cent of all loans of DHFL were to these BBEs,” the SEBI noted.

Despite the BBEs not making interest or principal payments, DHFL booked fictitious interest income, which allowed it to show increasing profits instead of losses between FY 2007-08 and FY 2015-16. These financials misled shareholders and distorted DHFL’s share price.

The investigation has revealed that loans worth Rs 5,662.44 crore were given to 39 BBEs, and later 40 per cent of this amount was passed on to 48 other entities connected to the promoters.

SEBI has prohibited Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan from the securities markets for five years, while Rakesh and Sarang Wadhawan face a four-year ban; and Mehta and Sharma have been prohibited for three years.

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Economic survey pegs MP growth rate at 11.05 pc

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The new administration has set its sights on achieving “Viksit Madhya Pradesh,” aligning with the broader vision of “Viksit Bharat.”

The survey reveals that the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) for the fiscal year 2024-25 has reached Rs 15,03,305 crore, marking an 11.05 per cent increase from Rs 13,53,809 crore in 2023-24 (as per quick estimates).

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Despite these advancements, the state’s per capita income remains below the national average.

The survey also highlights a surge in industrial investments, with proposals exceeding Rs 4 lakh crore approved by December 2024, expected to generate 4 lakh jobs.

It notes that increased capital investment and industrial intent will further boost the state’s growth trajectory. However, the industry sector’s share in the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has slightly declined from 19.36 per cent to 19.03 per cent, and the agriculture sector’s contribution has dipped from 31.10 per cent to 30.90 per cent.

Historically, Madhya Pradesh was categorized as a “Bimaru” state during the Congress-led government of Digvijaya Singh (1990-2003), with its average income being less than a third of the national average. Today, the state stands as a testament to the transformative power of sustained governance and development.

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From brokered peace to dictated pause: India now sets the terms

New Delhi, May 10 (IANS) After four days of intense military exchanges that sent tremors across global capitals, India and Pakistan on Saturday agreed to a ceasefire, with a decisive difference — this time, it is a ceasefire dictated entirely by New Delhi’s terms. Far from being a product of diplomatic pressure or third-party mediation, as seen in previous decades, the 2025 ceasefire represents a historic doctrinal and strategic shift under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, say security analysts.

To appreciate the gravity of this moment, one must understand the historical arc of India-Pakistan ceasefires. In July 1949, the Karachi Agreement laid the groundwork for a ceasefire monitored by the United Nations, with negotiations largely shaped by US influence and global Cold War politics.

India “accepted UN monitoring and international oversight in the name of peace, setting a precedent of externally imposed frameworks”.

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Unlike previous decades, there was no role played by a third party in brokering the ceasefire. The initiative came directly from Pakistan’s DGMO, and India agreed only after ensuring its strategic and operational objectives were met. This bilateral ceasefire stands in stark contrast to those of the past — it is not an end to Indian pressure but a pause in kinetic activity. Trade sanctions, visa restrictions, diplomatic downgrades, and water leverage remain firmly in place.

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