CBC shortlists 31 agencies for first phase of digital advertising empanelment

The Central Bureau of Communication (CBC), under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, has shortlisted 31 micro, small, startup and MSME entities for the first phase of technical presentations as part of its proposed base panel for digital advertising services.

The presentations will be held on September 25, 2026, from 11 am onwards at the Conference Room on the second floor of the Central Bureau of Communication at Soochna Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi.

The development follows an earlier request for proposal issued by the CBC for empanelment of Micro/Small Startups/MSME entities for providing digital advertising services at the base rate. The latest advisory, dated September 18, 2026, said the technical bids received under the process had been evaluated by the Technical Evaluation Committee.

The 31 agencies have been found to meet the technical qualification criteria prescribed under the RFP and have consequently been called for the technical presentation stage.

The empanelment exercise is significant as the CBC is looking to build a base panel of smaller and emerging entities for digital advertising services, potentially widening the pool of agencies eligible to execute government advertising assignments in the digital medium.

31 agencies qualify for first phase

The agencies called for the first phase of technical presentations include Acadian Technologies, Adfluence Hub, CASHurDRIVE Marketing, Collective Artists Network, Creative Channel Media, Dainik Uttam Hindu, Desiidea Consulting, Digeratie XP, Erelego Technologies and Global Media Marketing & Communication.

The list also includes Gold Mine Advertising, Grunmech Technologies, IAM Creative Communication, Indixital Media, Infinity Advertising Service, Jang-E-Samachar, Klug Tech, Moksha Media Production, Network Advertising and Oasis Films and New Media.

Other agencies shortlisted are Pragyan Impact Solutions, Shraddha Advertising, Somani Digital, Spike Advertising, Storytellers Branding and Advertising, Tag Enterprises, The Ultra Outdoors, Think Digital Media, Trinayana Enterprises, VUI Consultancy and YRA Media House.

The inclusion of agencies spanning advertising, digital media, technology, content and media-related services reflects the range of entities seeking inclusion in the CBC's digital advertising ecosystem.

Agencies face a fixed presentation schedule

The advisory makes it clear that agencies are expected to appear for their presentations on the date and at the time allotted to them. An agency that fails to make its presentation within the allotted schedule will be treated as having forgone the opportunity, with no separate opportunity ordinarily to be granted.

The CBC, however, has retained the right to alter the schedule or individual sessions, with agencies to be informed of any such changes.

The technical presentation stage will form part of the evaluation process before the final empanelment of eligible entities.

Eight more agencies may get presentation opportunity

Alongside the 31 agencies already cleared for the first phase, the CBC has identified another eight agencies whose technical bids were found to have certain documentary deficiencies.

These agencies have been given an opportunity to cure the deficiencies on or before September 24, 2026. The advisory said that these entities would be evaluated again after submission of the required documents.

Those found eligible following the re-evaluation will be called for their technical presentations on September 28, 2026.

This creates a second presentation window for agencies that are able to address the documentary deficiencies within the prescribed deadline.

CBC's digital advertising panel

The current exercise follows the CBC's RFP for empanelment of Micro/Small Startups/MSME entities for digital advertising services at the base rate. The objective, as outlined in the advisory, is to establish a base panel of eligible entities through the prescribed technical qualification and presentation process.

The move comes as government communication increasingly incorporates digital platforms alongside traditional advertising channels. The latest CBC exercise specifically focuses on digital advertising services and provides a formal route for smaller and emerging agencies to seek empanelment.

The first phase of presentations involving the 31 technically qualified agencies is scheduled for September 25, while agencies that successfully cure their documentary deficiencies could enter the process through the September 28 presentation round.