Procedure for Online RNI Registration in India

• Every publisher of a periodical / newspaper is required to comply with the new procedure of the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023, for getting their periodical registered. The procedure for online RNI registration in India through the Press Sewa Portal is as described below:
• Application for Registration of Application
• The publishers registering themselves on the Press Sewa Portal are required to make necessary submission of the documents and application containing title for the periodical to the concerned authority within whose local jurisdiction such periodical is proposed to be published.
• Unique Application Reference Number
• The Press Sewa Portal generates an acknowledgement along with a unique 10-digit application reference number (ARN) required for further use by the publisher and Press Registrar General of India.
• Online Payment of Fees
• Every publisher is mandatorily required to remit online registration payments of fees of Rs. 1000 through the Bharatkosh digital payment system integrated with the Press Sewa Portal.
• Issuance of No-Objection or Comments
• Within 60 days from the online payment of fees, the specified authority (i.e., District Magistrate) is expected to furnish either a no-objection or comments on the application submitted to the press Registrar General.
• Issuance of PRGI Registration Certificate
• The PRGI registration certificate (Earlier RNI registration certificate) containing particulars of periodicity, language, place of publication, details of the owner, and the title of the owner shall be issued upon due satisfaction of the Registrar General of India.

Responsibilities after Registration of Periodicals

Given below are the significant responsibilities after registration of periodicals-

Responsibilities of RNI/ PRGI

• Transfer of Ownership of Periodical: The owner of the periodical is authorized to transfer the ownership of that periodical to any other person or entity through an application to the Press Registrar General on the Press Sewa Portal.
• Intimation of Discontinuation: Within 6 months of discontinuation of the publication, the owner of a periodical is required to send an intimation of such discontinuation to the press-registrar general of India.
• Delivery of Periodicals: Within 48 hours of publication of the periodical or newspaper, the publisher is required to upload the newspaper electronically, periodicals upon the Press Sewa Portal.
• Verification of Circulation Figure: The Press Registrar General of India is mandatorily required to verify the circulation figures of periodicals and daily newspapers.
• Furnish Annual Statement: One of the mandatory compliances is related to the furnishing of annual statements (by the 31st of May of a calendar year through the Press Sewa Portal.
• Publication of Annual Return: The Press Registrar General of India shall prepare and publish an annual report containing information concerning periodicals registered on the Press Sewa Portal.
• Penalty for Non-Compliance: The Press Registrar General of India is authorized to impose a penalty if the publisher publishes a periodical without obtaining a certificate of registration under section 7 or fails to furnish an annual statement under section 12 of the Act.

Responsibilities of Central Government

• Central Government to Issue Directions: The central government is authorized with the power to issue directions on matters of policy to the Press Registrar General.
• Power to Make Rules: The central government is authorized to make necessary rules on the matters concerning manner & particulars for furnishing an intimation, manner of registration of facsimile edition, manner of verification of circulation figure of class of periodicals, etc.
• Power to Remove Difficulties: The central government through an order published in the Official Gazette, make provisions for removing difficulties, that are inconsistent with the provisions of the Act of 2023.