Is the application required to be submitted to and authenticated by the Magistrate/ Specified Authority, as was the process under the old PRB Act, 1867?

No. The procedure of physical submission of application and subsequent authentication by the area magistrate mandated under the PRB Act, 1867 has been done away with in the PRP Act. Application submitted by the publisher on the press sewa portal, after the removal of deficiencies, if any, will be forwarded to the Specified Authority by the Press Registrar General through the Portal itself and the Specified Authority will furnish no-objection or comments within the specified period.