(Updated as on 17.5.2024)

The Press and Registration of Books (PRB) Act, 1867 and The Registration of Newspapers (Central) Rules, 1956 governed the regulation of printing presses and newspapers printed in India and registration of books and newspapers till 29.2.2024.

With the notification of the Press and Registration of Periodicals (PRP) Act, 2023 and the Press and Registration of Periodicals (PRP) Rules, 2024 with effect from 1.3.2024, the registration and publication of periodicals (which includes newspapers) and the manner of furnishing intimation by printing presses will be governed by the PRP Act, 2023. Also, the PRB Act, 1867 stands repealed after the coming into force of the PRP Act.

The PRP act provides for the appointment of a Press Registrar General of India to carry out the purposes under the Act. The Press Registrar appointed under the PRB Act has taken over as the Press Registrar General. Under the PRP Act, the office of the Registrar of Newspapers of India (RNI) has been renamed as the Office of the Press Registrar General of India (PRGI).

The following FAQ is published for the benefit and guidance of all stakeholders.

51. Is it mandatory to apply for revised registration if the press keeper/ printer changes?

As per the PRP Act 2023, it is mandatory to apply for changes in the certificate with any change in the press details.

52. Who is the "specified authority" as per the Act?

The "specified authority" refers to a District Magistrate or District Collector or such other officer as the State Government or a Union Territory Administration may specify by notification. 

53. How to apply for physical/ duplicate certificate.

Since the PRP Act 2023 mandates online certificate only, hence there is no provision of Physical certificate or duplicate certificate. The user can download the Certificate using the Press Sewa Portal.

54. What does the term "title" mean in relation to a periodical under the Act?

"Title" in relation to a periodical means the name of the 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 identified. 

55. How to apply for a new edition of existing title?

The procedure of, in case of applying for a new edition of the existing title remains nearly the same except that the already registered titles are required to be mapped first to the owner’s profile. While choosing the title options, the name of the existing title is to be given. on the press sewa portal. It should be ensured that all pending penalty (for all editions of all the titles under the ownership) is paid before the application is submitted.

56. How can a publisher initiate the process for obtaining a certificate of registration for a periodical under section 7 of the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023?

A publisher intending to start a periodical must make an online application on the Press Sewa Portal. The application should be accompanied by specified documents, and a processing fee of Rs. 1,000 (Rs. One thousand) needs to be paid to Bharat Kosh via the designated payment modes. Additionally, adherence to the Guidelines on ‘Title Allotment’ issued by the Press Registrar General is essential while applying. 

57. I am getting an ‘Aadhar name mismatch error’. How to resolve.

This issue happens when the name entered in the Press Sewa Portal profile is different from the Aadhar card name. Please use the same name in the profile as in the Aadhar card. For example, if the name in the profile is ‘Shivam K Shukla’ and in the Aadhar card it is ‘Shivam Kumar Shukla’, then this error will come up during the application's e-signing. In this case, the profile name may be updated to match the Aadhar card name exactly

58. What happens after a successful upload of the application on the Press Sewa Portal?

The Press Sewa Portal generates an acknowledgement along with a unique 10-digit Applicant Reference Number (ARN). The ARN is used by the publisher and Press Registrar General for all future correspondences and references. 

59. How to file annual statement for my publication

1.Login to the Portal:

  1. Access the Press Sewa portal using your valid Login ID and password/ Signup If not already created.
  2. Click on the Login button to proceed.

2.Access Your Dashboard:

  1. Upon successfol login, you will be redirected to your dashboard.
  2. Navigate to your profile page to map your previously registered titles for filing the annual statement.

3.Select Annual Statement Tile:

  1. Click on the "Annual Statement" tile on your dashboard
  2. You will be directed to the Annual Statement Dashboard.

4.Choose the Title:

  1. If you are the owner and publisher of the title, proceed to file the annual statement.
  2. If the publisher is different, invite the publisher to file the annual statement.

5.Initiate Filing:

  1. Click on "File Annual Statement" to start the filing process.
  2. You will be taken to the Annual Statement list page.

6.View Mapped Titles:

  1. Click on the "view" icon under the action column to view the mapped titles available for filing.
  2. Only titles mapped by you will be visible for filing.

7.File Annual Statement:

  1. Click on the "File" button under the action column to file the annual statement for a specific title.
  2. You will be redirected to the "Annual Statement Part – 1" page to begin the filing process.
  3. After filling up part 1 other parts are to be filled up. 

8.Submit to Chartered Accountant for Verification:

  1. If the claimed circolation is more than 2000 per publishing day then the publisher will have to submit the application to CA for verification.
  2. CA will have to e-sign the application along with the UDIN number for the verification of the document.

9.Proceed to Annexure:

  1. After partially filing the annual statement, click on the "Continue" button.
  2. Fill out all the necessary details in the supportive Annexure as prompted (only for daily periodicity)

10.Submit Annual Statement:

  1. Review all the information provided.
  2. Once all sections are completed, submit the annual statement for processing.

60. Is it possible to make corrections or remove/fill omissions in the application, and if so, within what timeframe?

Yes, the publisher can make corrections or remove/fill omissions in the application within three days of furnishing it.