FAQs

The term 'Act' in these rules refers to the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023. 

The Act is officially known as the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023. It came into force on March 1, 2024. 

The Act defines a "newspaper" as a periodical of loose-folded sheets usually printed on newsprint and brought out daily or at least once a week, containing information on current events, public news, or comments on public news.

A "periodical" is any publication, including a newspaper, which is published and printed at regular intervals containing public news or comments on public news. However, it does not include a book or a journal of scientific, technical, and academic nature.

"Publication" means newspapers, magazines, journals, or newsletters printed periodically and published in India. It includes reproduction in electronic form or any syndication, facsimile edition, for public distribution or access.

"Publishing" means the process of making a work available to the public by issuing or causing to be issued the copies thereof or in any other manner, whether for a price or free of charge. The word "publishing" shall be construed accordingly.

A "facsimile edition" of a periodical means an exact reproduction of the original edition of a foreign publication in English or an Indian language included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution.

According to the Act, a "journal" means a periodical publication, other than a magazine, which primarily carries academic, scientific, or technical content related to a particular discipline or profession.

A "publisher" is a person responsible for publishing any periodical.

A "printer" is the owner or keeper of a printing press. A "keeper" is a person who manages the day-to-day operations of a printing press, and the owner of which is a non-individual entity.

"Printing" means the reproduction of a periodical through any technology involving mass production of copies, excluding photocopying.

An "owner" is an individual, firm, or any such legal entity owning a periodical.

"Title," in relation to a periodical, means the name of such periodical as may be verified by the Press Registrar General. It should be printed prominently and legibly as the masthead on the front page of that periodical by which it shall be known or be identified.

T h e "specified authority" refers to a District Magistrate or District Collector or such other officer as the State Government or, as the case may be, Union Territory Administration may specify by notification.

The term 'Ministry' in these rules refers to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. 

The Act extends to the entire territory of India. 

(a) The 'Press Sewa Portal' (www.presssewa.prgi.gov.in) is the online portal developed by the Press Registrar General for receiving various applications, intimations, and documents required under the PRP Act and Rules. Certificates of Registration of periodicals are also issued on the portal.
(b) Various stakeholders (owner, printer, publisher etc. can register on the portal and create their profiles and request various services available through the portal. The following services are/ will be available on the portal:

i) Intimation by printer of a periodical as specified in Sec 3 of PRP Act.
ii) Application by a publisher for obtaining a new certificate of registration including a facsimile edition of a foreign periodical.
iii) Application form for revision of particulars in certificate of registration like language, periodicity, place of publication, printer/ printing press, editor, publisher, price revision, transfer of ownership etc.
iii) Ceasing of publication. 
iv) Filing of Annual statement.
v) Payment of penalties.
vi) Apply for verification of circulation of a periodical. 
vii) Submit copy of the periodical for regularity .

The Act received the President's assent on December 28, 2023, and was notified on December 29, 2023, in the Official Gazette. 

1. For a new press (commencing operation after 1.3.2024): Within thirty days of starting the printing press, an intimation is required to be sent to the Press Registrar General and the specified authority on the Press Sewa Portal. Particulars and documents as specified in the Press Sewa Portal are to be submitted during the intimation process.
2. For presses existing before 29.2.2024: create a profile on the portal at the earliest.

The 'Press Sewa Portal' is the online portal, (www.presssewa.prgi.gov.in) developed by the Press Registrar General, for receiving applications, intimations and documents required under the Act. The portal carries instructions on - the format for the certificate of registration of a periodical; the annual statements that a periodical has to submit, guidelines for title allotment and other information pertaining to the Act/Rules. 

The 'Press Sewa Portal' processes various applications and documents, including: 

• Intimation about the periodical by its printer 
• Registration of the facsimile edition of a foreign periodical 
• Application form by a publisher for obtaining a certificate of registration of a periodical 
• Application form for the revision of the certificate of registration 
• Application form for the transfer of ownership of the certificate of registration 
• Format of the certificate of registration of a periodical 
• Format of furnishing the annual statement by the publisher of a periodical 
• Guidelines for title allotment 
• Procedure for desk audit for the verification of circulation of a periodical