a) Change in accounting policy
 
 Presentation and disclosure of financial statements During the year
 ended 31 March 2012, the revised Schedule VI notified under the
 Companies Act 1956, has become applicable to the Company, for
 preparation and presentation of its financial statements. Except
 accounting for dividend on investments in subsidiary companies the
 adoption of revised Schedule VI does not impact recognition and
 measurement principles followed for preparation of financial
 statements. However, it has significant impact on presentation and
 disclosures made in the financial statements. The Company has also
 reclassified the Previous year figures in accordance with the
 requirements applicable in the current year.
 
 b) Use of estimates
 
 The preparation of financial statements in conformity with Indian GAAP
 requires the management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions
 that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
 disclosure of contingent liabilities, at the date of the financial
 statements and of the result of operations during the reporting period
 end. Although these estimates are based upon management''s best
 knowledge of current events and actions, uncertainty about these
 assumptions and estimates could result in the outcomes requiring a
 material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities in
 future periods.
 
 c) Tangible assets
 
 Value for individual Fixed Assets acquired from ''The Hindustan Times
 Limited'' (the holding company) in an earlier year is allocated based on
 the valuation carried out by independent experts.
 
 Other Fixed Assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and
 accumulated impairment losses, if any. Cost comprises the purchase
 price, borrowing costs if capitalization criteria are met and any
 directly attributable cost of bringing the asset to its working
 condition for the intended use. Any trade discounts and rebates are
 deducted in arriving at the purchase price.
 
 Subsequent expenditure related to an item of fixed asset is added to
 its book value only if it increases the future benefits from the
 existing asset beyond its previously assessed standard of performance.
 All other expenses on existing fixed assets, including day-to- day
 repair and maintenance expenditure and cost of replacing parts, are
 charged to the statement of profit and loss for the period during which
 such expenses are incurred.
 
 From accounting periods commencing on or after 7 December 2006, the
 Company adjusts exchange differences arising on translation/settlement
 of long- term foreign currency monetary items pertaining to the
 acquisition of a depreciable asset to the cost of the asset and
 depreciates the same over the remaining life of the asset.
 
 Gains or losses arising from derecognition of fixed assets are measured
 as the difference between the net disposal proceeds and the carrying
 amount of the asset and are recognized in the statement of profit and
 loss when the asset is derecognized.
 
 Leasehold improvements represent expenses incurred towards civil works,
 interior furnishings, etc on the leased premises at various locations.
 
 d) Depreciation
 
 Depreciation on fixed assets (other than those acquired from the
 holding company in earlier years) are provided on a Straight Line
 Method at the rates computed based on estimated useful life of the
 assets which are greater than or equal to the corresponding rates
 prescribed in Schedule XIV to the Companies Act, 1956.
 
 In respect of fixed assets acquired in an earlier year from the holding
 company, which are estimated to have lower residual lives than
 envisaged as per the rates provided in Schedule XIV to the Companies
 Act, 1956, depreciation is provided based on such estimated lower
 residual life.
 
 In respect of fixed assets (Plant & Machinery- printing press) acquired
 during the year 2004-05 from the holding company, depreciation is
 provided on straight line method over estimated useful life of 5 years
 as technically assessed by an independent expert.
 
 Assets costing below Rs.5,000 each are fully depreciated in the year of
 acquisition.
 
 Leasehold Land is amortized on a straight line basis over the period of
 lease.
 
 Leasehold Improvements are amortized on a straight line basis over the
 useful life not exceeding 10 years or over the life of lease, whichever
 is lower.
 
 e) Intangibles
 
 Intangible assets acquired separately are measured on initial
 recognition at cost. Following initial recognition, intangible assets
 are carried at cost less accumulated amortization and accumulated
 impairment losses, if any. Internally generated intangible assets,
 excluding capitalized development costs, are not capitalized and
 expenditure is reflected in the statement of profit and loss in the
 year in which the expenditure is incurred.
 
 Value for individual software license acquired from the holding company
 in an earlier year is allocated based on the valuation carried out by
 an independent expert.
 
 Intangible assets are amortized on a straight line basis over the
 estimated useful economic life. The Company uses a rebuttable
 presumption that the useful life of an intangible asset will not exceed
 ten years from the date when the asset is available for use. If the
 persuasive evidence exists to the affect that useful life of an
 intangible asset exceeds ten years, the Company amortizes the
 intangible asset over the best estimate of its useful life. Such
 intangible assets and intangible assets not yet available for use are
 tested for impairment annually, either individually or at the
 cash-generating unit level. All other intangible assets are assessed
 for impairment whenever there is an indication that the intangible
 asset may be impaired.
 
 The amortization period and the amortization method of the intangible
 assets are reviewed at each financial year end for its expected useful
 life and the expected pattern of economic benefits. If there is a
 significant change in expected useful life or the expected pattern of
 economic benefits, the amortization period/method is adjusted to
 reflect the change. Such changes are accounted for in accordance with
 AS 5 Net Profit or Loss for the Period, Prior Period Items and Changes
 in Accounting Policies.
 
 Gains or losses arising from derecognition of an intangible asset are
 measured as the difference between the net disposal proceeds and the
 carrying amount of the asset and are recognized in the statement of
 profit and loss when the asset is derecognized.
 
 License fees are charged to statement of Profit and Loss at the rate of
 4% of gross revenue for the reporting period or 10% of Reserve One Time
 Entry fee (ROTEF) for the concerned city, whichever is higher. Gross
 Revenue for this purpose is revenue derived on the basis of billing
 rates inclusive of any taxes and without deduction of any discount
 given to the advertiser and any commission paid to advertising agencies
 ROTEF means 25% of highest valid bid in the city.
 
 Software licenses acquired from the holding company, which are
 estimated to have lower residual lives than that envisaged above, are
 amortised over such estimated lower residual lives.
 
 Software licenses costing below Rs.5,000 each are fully depreciated in
 the year of acquisition.
 
 f) Expenditure on new projects and substantial expansion
 
 Expenditure directly relating to construction activity is capitalized.
 Indirect expenditure incurred during construction year is capitalized
 as part of the indirect construction cost to the extent the expenditure
 is related to construction or is incidental thereto and represents the
 marginal increase in such expenditure as a result of the capital
 expansion. Other indirect expenditure (including borrowing costs)
 incurred during the construction year, which is not related to the
 construction activity nor is incidental thereto, are charged to the
 statement of Profit & Loss. Related income earned during construction
 period is adjusted against the total of the indirect expenditure.
 
 g) Leases
 
 Where the Company is lessee
 
 Finance leases, which effectively transfer to the Company substantially
 all the risks and benefits incidental to ownership of the leased item,
 are capitalized at the inception of the lease term at the lower of the
 fair value of the leased property and present value of the minimum
 lease payments. Lease payments are apportioned between the finance
 charges and reduction of the lease liability so as to achieve a
 constant rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability.
 Finance charges are recognized as finance costs in the statement of
 Profit and Loss.  Lease management fees, legal charges and other
 initial direct costs of lease are capitalised.
 
 A leased asset is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the useful
 life of the asset or the useful life envisaged in Schedule XIV to the
 Companies Act, 1956, whichever is lower. However, if there is no
 reasonable certainty that the Company will obtain the ownership by the
 end of the lease term, the capitalized leased assets are depreciated on
 a straight-line basis over the shorter of the estimated useful life of
 the asset, the lease term or the useful life envisaged in Schedule XIV
 to the Companies Act, 1956.
 
 Lease where the lessor effectively retains substantially all the risks
 and benefits of ownership of the leased item, are classified as
 operating leases. Operating lease payments/receipts are recognized as
 an expense/ income in the statement of Profit and Loss on a
 straight-line basis over the lease term.
 
 h) Borrowing costs
 
 Borrowing cost includes interest, amortization of ancillary costs
 incurred in connection with the arrangement of borrowings and exchange
 differences arising from foreign currency borrowings to the extent they
 are regarded as an adjustment to the interest cost.
 
 Borrowing costs directly attributable to the acquisition, construction
 or production of an asset that necessarily takes a substantial period
 of time to get ready for its intended use or sale are capitalized as
 part of the cost of the respective asset. All other borrowing costs are
 expensed in the period they occur.
 
 i) Impairment of tangible and intangible assets
 
 The Company assesses at each reporting date whether there is an
 indication that an asset may be impaired.  If any indication exists, or
 when annual impairment testing for an asset is required, the Company
 estimates the assets recoverable amount. An assets recoverable amount
 is higher of an assets or its cash-generating units (CGU) net selling
 price and its value in use. The recoverable amount is determined for an
 individual asset, unless the asset does not generate cash inflows that
 are largely independent of those from other assets or groups of assets.
 Where the carrying amount of an asset or CGU exceeds its recoverable
 amount, the asset is considered impaired and is written down to its
 recoverable amount. In assessing value in use, the estimated future
 cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax
 discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time
 value of money and the risks specific to the asset. In determining net
 selling price, recent market transactions are taken into account, if
 available. If no such transactions can be identified, an appropriate
 valuation model is used.
 
 The Company bases its impairment calculation on detailed budgets and
 forecast calculations which are prepared separately for each of the
 Company''s cash- generating units to which the individual assets are
 allocated. These budgets and forecast calculations are generally
 covering a period of five years. For longer periods, a long term growth
 rate is calculated and applied to project future cash flows after the
 fifth year.
 
 Impairment losses of continuing operations, including impairment on
 inventories, are recognized in the statement of Profit and Loss.
 
 After impairment, depreciation is provided on the revised carrying
 amount of the asset over its remaining useful life.
 
 j) Investments
 
 Investments, which are readily realizable and intended to be held for
 not more than one year from the date on which such investments are
 made, are classified as current investments. All other investments are
 classified as long-term investments.
 
 On initial recognition, all investments are measured at cost. The cost
 comprises purchase price and directly attributable acquisition charges
 such as brokerage, fees and duties. If an investment is acquired, or
 partly acquired, by the issue of shares or other securities, the
 acquisition cost is the fair value of the securities issued.
 
 Current investments are carried in the financial statements at lower of
 cost and fair value determined on an individual investment basis.
 Long-term investments are carried at cost. However, provision for
 diminution in value is made to recognize a decline other than temporary
 in the value of the investments.
 
 On disposal of an investment, the difference between its carrying
 amount and net disposal proceeds is charged or credited to the
 statement of Profit and Loss.
 
 Investment Property
 
 An investment in land or buildings, which is not intended to be
 occupied substantially for use by, or in the operations of, the
 company, is classified as investment property. Investment properties
 are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation & accumulated
 impairment losses, if any.
 
 The cost comprises purchase price, borrowing costs if capitalization
 criteria are met and directly attributable cost of bringing the
 investment property to its working condition for the intended use. Any
 trade discounts and rebates are deducted in arriving at the purchase
 price.
 
 Depreciation on building component of investment property is calculated
 on a straight-line basis using the rate arrived at based on useful life
 estimated by the management, or that prescribed under the Schedule XIV
 to the Companies Act, 1956, whichever is higher.  The Company has used
 depreciation rate of 3.34%.
 
 On disposal of an investment property, the difference between it''s
 carrying amount and net disposal proceeds is charged or credited to the
 statement of Profit and Loss.
 
 k) Inventories
 
 Inventories are valued as follows:
 
 Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary
 course of business, less estimated costs of completion and estimated
 costs necessary to make the sale.
 
 l) Revenue recognition
 
 Revenue is recognized to the extent that it is probable that the
 economic benefits will flow to the Company and the revenue can be
 reliably measured. Specifically, the following basis is adopted:
 
 Advertisements
 
 Revenue is recognized as and when advertisement is published/displayed
 and is disclosed net of discounts.
 
 Sale of News & Publications, Waste Paper and Scrap Revenue is
 recognized when the significant risks and rewards of ownership have
 passed on to the buyer and is disclosed net of sales return and
 discounts.
 
 Printing Job Work
 
 Revenue from printing job work is recognized on the completion of job
 work as per terms of the agreement.
 
 Airtime Revenue
 
 Revenue from radio broadcasting is recognized on an accrual basis on
 the airing of client''s commercials.
 
 Interest/Income from Investments Revenue is recognized on a time
 proportion basis taking into account the amount outstanding and the
 rate applicable. Income on investment made in the units of mutual funds
 is recognized based on the yield earned and to the extent of its
 reasonable certainty.
 
 Dividend
 
 Dividend Income is recognized when the Company''s right to receive the
 dividend is established by the reporting date.
 
 Commission income
 
 Commission income from sourcing of advertisement orders on behalf of
 other entities'' publications is recognised on printing of the
 advertisement in those publications.
 
 m) Foreign currency transactions
 
 Initial Recognition
 
 Foreign currency transactions are recorded in the reporting currency by
 applying to the foreign currency amount, the exchange rate between the
 reporting currency and the foreign currency prevailing at the date of
 the transaction.
 
 Conversion
 
 Foreign currency monetary items are reported using the exchange rate
 prevailing at the reporting date.  Non-monetary items, which are
 carried in terms of historical cost denominated in a foreign currency,
 are reported using the exchange rate at the date of the transaction.
 Non-monetary items which are carried at fair value or other similar
 valuation denominated in a foreign currency are reported using the
 exchange rates that existed when the values were determined.
 
 Exchange differences
 
 i.  Exchange differences, in respect of accounting years commencing on
 or after 7th December, 2006, arising on reporting of long-term foreign
 currency monetary items at rates different from those at which they
 were initially recorded during the year, or reported in previous
 financial statements, in so far as they relate to the acquisition of a
 depreciable capital asset, are added to or deducted from the cost of
 the asset and are depreciated over the balance life of the asset. For
 this purpose, the Company treats a foreign monetary item as
 long-term foreign currency monetary items, if it has a term of 12
 months or more at the date of origination.  Exchange differences in
 other long term foreign currency monetary items, are accumulated in a
 Foreign Currency Monetary Item Translation Difference Account in
 the Company''s financial statements and amortized over the remaining
 life of such monetary item.
 
 ii.  Exchange differences arising on the settlement of monetary items
 not covered above, or on reporting such monetary items of Company at
 rates different from those at which they were initially recorded during
 the year, or reported in previous financial statements, are recognized
 as income or as expenses in the year in which they arise. Any gain/
 loss arising on forward contracts which are long- term foreign currency
 monetary items is recognized in accordance with para i) above
 
 iii. Forward Exchange Contracts not intended for trading or speculation
 purposes
 
 The premium or discount arising at the inception of forward exchange
 contracts is amortized as expense or income over the life of the
 contract.  Exchange differences on such contracts are recognized in the
 statement of Profit and Loss in the year in which the exchange rates
 change. Any profit or loss arising on cancellation or renewal of
 forward exchange contract is recognized as income or as expense for the
 year.
 
 n) Retirement and other employee benefits
 
 i.  Retirement benefits in the form of Provident Fund and Pension
 Schemes are defined contribution schemes and the contributions are
 charged to the statement of Profit and Loss for the year when the
 contributions to the respective funds are due.  There are no other
 obligations other than the contribution payable to the respective
 funds.
 
 ii.  Gratuity is a defined benefit plan. The cost of providing benefits
 under the plan is determined on the basis of actuarial valuation at
 each year- end using the projected unit credit method and is
 contributed to Gratuity Fund created by the Company. Actuarial gains
 and losses are recognized in full in the period in which they occur in
 the statement of Profit and Loss.
 
 iii. Accumulated leave, which is expected to be utilized within the
 next 12 months, is treated as short-term employee benefit. The Company
 measures the expected cost of such absences as the additional amount
 that it expects to pay as a result of the unused entitlement that has
 accumulated at the reporting date.
 
 The Company treats accumulated leave expected to be carried forward
 beyond twelve months, as long- term employee benefit for measurement
 purposes.  Such long-term compensated absences are provided for based
 on the actuarial valuation using the projected unit credit method at
 the year-end. Actuarial gains/ losses are immediately taken to the
 statement of Profit and Loss and are not deferred. The Company presents
 the entire leave as current liability in the balance sheet, since it
 does not have as unconditional right to defer its settlement for 12
 months after the reporting date.
 
 o) Provisions
 
 A provision is recognized when the Company has a present obligation as
 a result of past event and it is probable that an outflow of resources
 will be required to settle the obligation, in respect of which a
 reliable estimate can be made. Provisions are not discounted to their
 present value and are determined based on best estimate required to
 settle the obligation at the repoting date. These are reviewed at each
 reporting date and are adjusted to reflect the current best estimates.
 
 Provision for expenditure relating to voluntary retirement is made when
 the employee accepts the offer of early retirement and such provision
 amount is charged to the statement of Profit and Loss in the year of
 provision.
 
 p) Income Taxes
 
 Tax expense comprises current and deferred tax.  Current income-tax is
 measured at the amount expected to be paid to the tax authorities in
 accordance with the Income-tax Act, 1961 enacted in India and tax laws
 prevailing in the respective tax jurisdictions, where the company
 operates. The tax rates and the tax laws used to compute the amount are
 those that are enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date.
 Current income-tax relating to items recognized directly in equity is
 recognized in equity and not in the statement of Profit and Loss.
 
 Deferred income-taxes reflects the impact of timing differences between
 taxable income and accounting income originating during the current
 year and reversal of timing differences for the earlier years. Deferred
 tax is measured using the tax rates and the tax laws enacted or
 substantively enacted at the reporting date. Deferred income-tax
 relating to items recognized directly in equity is recognized in equity
 and not in the statement of Profit and Loss.
 
 Deferred tax liabilities are recognized for all taxable timing
 differences. Deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible timing
 differences only to the extent that there is reasonable certainty that
 sufficient future taxable income will be available against which such
 deferred tax assets can be realized. In situations where the Company
 has unabsorbed depreciation or carry forward tax losses, all deferred
 tax assets are recognized only if there is virtual certainty supported
 by convincing evidence that they can be realized against future taxable
 profits.
 
 At each reporting date the Company re-assesses unrecognized deferred
 tax assets. It recognizes unrecognized deferred tax assets to the
 extent that it has become reasonably certain or virtually certain, as
 the case may be, that sufficient future taxable income will be
 available against which such deferred tax assets can be realised.
 
 The carrying amount of deferred tax assets are reviewed at each balance
 sheet date. The Company writes-down the carrying amount of a deferred
 tax asset to the extent that it is no longer reasonably certain or
 virtually certain, as the case may be, that sufficient future taxable
 income will be available against which deferred tax asset can be
 realized. Any such write-down is reversed to the extent that it becomes
 reasonably certain or virtually certain, as the case may be, that
 sufficient future taxable income will be available.
 
 Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are offset, if a
 legally enforceable right exists to set off current tax assets against
 current tax liabilities and the deferred tax assets and deferred tax
 liabilities relate to the to the same taxable entity and the same
 taxation authority.
 
 Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) paid in a year is charged to the statement
 of profit and loss as current tax. The Company recognises MAT credit
 available as an asset only to the extent there is convincing evidence
 that the Company will pay normal income-tax during the specified future
 period. In the year in which the Company recognises MAT credit as an
 asset in accordance with the Guidance Note on Accounting for Credit
 Available in respect of Minimum Alternative Tax under the Income- tax
 Act, 1961, the said asset is created by way of credit to the statement
 of Profit and Loss and shown as ''MAT Credit Entitlement''. The Company
 reviews the ''MAT Credit Entitlement'' asset at each reporting date and
 writes down the asset to the extent the Company does not have
 convincing evidence that it will pay normal tax during the specified
 period.
 
 q) Earnings Per Share
 
 Basic earnings per share are calculated by dividing the net Profit or
 Loss for the reporting period attributable to Equity Shareholders by
 the weighted average number of equity shares outstanding during the
 reporting period. The weighted average numbers of equity shares
 outstanding during the reporting period are adjusted for events of
 bonus issue, bonus element in a rights issue to existing shareholders,
 share split and reverse share split (consolidation of shares) that have
 changed the number of equity shares outstanding, without a
 corresponding change in resources.
 
 For the purpose of calculating diluted earnings per share, the net
 profit or loss for the reporting period attributable to equity
 shareholders and the weighted average number of shares outstanding
 during the reporting period are adjusted for the effects of all
 dilutive potential equity shares.
 
 r) Employee Stock Compensation Cost
 
 Measurement and disclosure of the employee share- based payment plans
 is done in accordance with SEBI (Employee Stock Option Scheme and
 Employee Stock Purchase Scheme) Guidelines, 1999 and the Guidance Note
 on Accounting for Employee Share- based Payments, issued by the
 Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. The Company measures
 compensation cost relating to employee stock options using the
 intrinsic value method. The cumulative expense recognized for
 equity-settled transactions at each reporting date until the vesting
 date reflects the extent to which the vesting period has expired and
 the Company''s best estimate of the number of equity instruments that
 will ultimately vest. The expense or credit recognized in the statement
 of Profit and Loss for a period represents the movement in cumulative
 expense recognized as at the beginning and end of that period and is
 recognized in employee benefit scheme.  Compensation cost is amortized
 over the vesting period of the option on a straight line basis.
 
 s) Cash and Cash equivalents
 
 Cash and Cash equivalents in the cash flow statement comprise cash at
 bank and in hand and short term investments with an original maturity
 of three months or less.
 
 t) Segment Reporting Policies Identification of segments:
 
 The Company''s operating businesses are organized and managed separately
 according to the nature of products and services provided, with each
 segment representing a strategic business unit that offers different
 products and serves different markets. The analysis of geographical
 segments is based on the areas in which major operating divisions of
 the Company operate.
 
 Inter segment Transfers:
 
 The Company generally accounts for intersegment sales and transfers as
 if the sales or transfers were to third parties at current market
 prices.
 
 Allocation of Common Costs:
 
 Common allocable costs are allocated to each segment on a rational
 basis based on nature of each such common cost.
 
 Unallocated Items:
 
 Unallocated items include general corporate income and expense items
 which are not allocated to any business segment.
 
 Segment Policies:
 
 The Company prepares its segment information in conformity with the
 accounting policies adopted for preparing and presenting the financial
 statements of the Company as a whole.
 
 u) Contingent liabilities
 
 A contingent liability is a possible obligation that arises from past
 events whose existence will be confirmed by the occurrence or
 non-occurrence of one or more uncertain future events beyond the
 control of the Company or a present obligation that is not recognized
 because it is not probable that an outflow of resources will be
 required to settle the obligation. A contingent liability also arises
 in extremely rare cases where there is a liability that cannot be
 recognized because it cannot be measured reliably. The Company does not
 recognize a contingent liability but discloses its existence in the
 financial statements.
 
 v) Measurement of EBITDA
 
 As permitted by the Guidance Note on the Revised Schedule VI to the
 Companies Act, 1956, the Company has elected to present earnings before
 interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) as a separate
 line item on the face of the statement of profit and loss. The Company
 measures EBITDA on the basis of profit/(loss) from continuing
 operations.  In its measurement, the Company does not include
 depreciation and amortization expense, finance costs and tax expense.