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.

 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 Also, the PRB Act, 1867 stands repealed after the coming into force of the PRP Act.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.

1. What are the definitions of various terms in the PRP Act?

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.

2. What is 'Press Sewa Portal' ?

3. What are the compliances required for a printing press under the PRP Act?

4. 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?

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

6. How does the Press Registrar General verify the application and what happens if deficiencies are identified?

7. 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?

8. Am I required to apply for Title verification first and later for title registration.

9. What happens if the Press Registrar General decides not to grant registration and what steps can the publisher take?

10. How is the process of application for Facsimile edition initiated?

11. How to apply when owner is a non-individual company etc?

12. What happens to my title which were already verified under PRB Act and not registered yet.?

13. How to register a journal ?

14. How can a Keeper/ Printer make changes in the details in respect of printing press?

15. Can an owner of a printing press add more than one presses in his profile?

16. How to apply for ownership transfer?

17. How to apply for printer change?

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

19. How to apply for physical/ duplicate certificate.

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