G.S.R. (E).- In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 93 of the Finance Act, 1994 (32 of 1994) (hereinafter referred to as the Finance Act), the Central Government, on being satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest so to do, hereby exempts the taxable service provided in relation to on-line information and database access or retrieval services and business auxiliary services as specified in sub-clauses (zh) and (zzb) of clause (105) of section 65 of the Finance Act, by any Indian news agency, from the whole of service tax leviable thereon under section 66 of the Finance Act, subject to the fulfilment of the following conditions, namely:-

a) If such new agency is notified as a news agency set up in India solely for collection and distribution of news:

Provided that this exemption shall be available only to news agencies which are specified under clause (22B) of section 10 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961);

and,

b) such news agency applies its income or accumulates it for collection and distribution of news and does not distribute its income in any manner to its members.

2. This notification shall come into force on the date of its publication in the Gazette of India.
 

[F. No. 334/1/2010 -TRU]
(Prashant Kumar)
Under Secretary to the Government of India