Government License - RNI Registration |

Registar of Newspapers For India

Overview

The Office of the Registrar of Newspapers for India, widely known as RNI came into force on 1stJuly, 1956, on the recommendation of the First Press Commission in 1953 and by amending the Press and Registration of Books Act 1867 which contains the duties and functions of the RNI.

Since, RNI is entrusted with several responsibilities during all these years, the RNI office performs both statutory as well as some non-statutory functions.

STATUTORY FUNCTIONS

Compiling and maintaining a Register containing particulars about all the newspapers published. Issue of Certificate of Registration to the newspapers published under valid declaration;

Scrutinizing and analysing annual statements sent by the publishers of newspapers every year under Section 19-D of the Press and Registration of Books Act containing information on circulation, ownership etc;

Informing the District Magistrates about titles availability to intending publishers for filing declaration; Ensuring the newspapers are published in accordance with the provisions of the Press and Registration of Books Act 1867 and the Rules made thereunder.

Verifying under Section 19-F of the PRB Act, circulation claims furnished by the publishers in their Annual Statements; and Preparing and submitting to the Government on or before 31st December each year, a report which contains all available information and statistics about the press in India with particular reference to the emerging trends in circulation and in the direction of common ownership units etc.

NON-STATUTORY FUNCTIONS:

Formulating Newsprint Allocation Policy - Guidelines and issuing Eligibility Certificate to the newspapers to enable them to import newsprint and to procure indigenous newsprint.

Assessing and certifying the essential requirements of newspaper establishments to import printing, composing machinery and allied materials.

Title Registration Process

STEP 1: TITLE VERIFICATION

The publisher should get the required title verified after applying online as per the procedure and guidelines for title verification.

STEP 2: DECLARATION AUTHENTICATION

Post downloading the title verification letter from RNI website, present it to forwarding authority concerned (DM/DC/SDM/DCP/JCP/CMM etc.) along with properly filled declaration (Form-I) for authentication. Where publisher and printer are different persons, then separate declarations from both are required.

Where publication place and printing press are in different districts then also separate declarations are required from both the districts The publisher shall file declaration from the district of place of publication and printer should file declaration from the district of printing press

STEP 3: PUBLICATION OF VOLUME/YEAR-1 ISSUE-1

Under section 5 (5) of PRB Act 1867, volume/year-1 issue-1 should be brought within 42 days of authentication of declaration, if periodicity is daily or weekly. If periodicity is fortnightly or above, volume/year-1 issue-1 should be brought out within 90 days of authentication of declaration.

Where publication place and printing press are in different districts, then the authentication date of publication declaration place filed by the publisher will be considered for calculating 42/90 days for beginning of volume-1 issue-1.s In case volume-1 issue- 1 is not brought out within the required time period, a revised declaration should be filed and volume-1 issue-1 should be brought out within the required period from the authentication date of revised declaration. Print the publication in the press mentioned in the declaration.

The publication has to primarily contain news/views/articles etc and in case of bilingual/multilingual publications, news/views/articles etc needs to be brought out in all the languages of the publication.

Guidelines To Print Masthead

To ensure distinctiveness of the title, it should be displayed in the masthead, as verified and should not resemble/imitate any existing title.

The title shall be displayed in uniform font/letter size in mast head of the publication. The difference in font/letter size should not be more than 25%.

The title shall be displayed either horizontally or vertically.

In case of bilingual/multilingual publications the title in the masthead should be displayed in anyone of the languages of publication.
Periodicity should not be mentioned along with the title in the masthead if it is not part of the verified title.

If title displayed in the masthead is in language other than English or Hindi, the same should also be displayed in English/Hindi (It should be as verified and not translation and it can be in smaller font size).

The masthead space should also carry dateline containing volume and issue number, date/month/year, periodicity, price and publication city, in the language of publication and also in English/Hindi in case of publications in languages other than English and Hindi.

Each page should display the title, page number, and date/month/year of publication.

Guidelines For Imprint Line

The imprint line should be printed legibly as “Printed by_ Published by_ on behalf of _ (name of owner) and Printed at _( name and complete address of printing press)_ and published from _ complete address of place of publication_ Editor ___.

In case of publications in languages other than English or Hindi, the imprint line should also be displayed in English/Hindi for reference. It can be in smaller font size.

The name of Editor given in the imprint line should be same as mentioned in the declaration. Editor-in-chief, Sub Editor, Chief Editor, Resident Editor etc should not be mentioned as a part of the imprint line.

As per section 3 of PRB Act 1867 the imprint line should be legible. Hence, the font size and placement of imprint line should be such that it is legible and clearly visible. There is no specific place recommended for imprint line however, bottom of page 3 or last page of the publication should be preferred so that it can be easily located.

STEP 4: SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTS TO RNI FOR REGISTRATION

After downloading the title verification letter from RNI website, the same should be presented to forwarding authority concerned (DM/DC/SDM/DCP/JCP/CMM etc.) along with properly filled declaration (Form-I) for authentication and other required documents. Refer the list of documents required for registration of newspaper given on the website.

Procedure For Title Verification

STEP 1: Log onto RNI official website www.rni.nic.in

STEP 2: Read carefully the guidelines for title verification under “RNI Guidelines”.

STEP 3: Click on the link Online Title Application on the home page of the website.

STEP 4: Read carefully the instructions for filling online application and proceed to apply.

STEP 5: Fill in all the mandatory fields (Functional mobile number and e-mail id should be provided during filling of application).

STEP 6: Submit the application and take a printout of the duly filled-in application. Note down the print code generated, for reprinting the application if necessary.

STEP 7: Submit the application to the forwarding authority concerned (DM/DC/SDM/DCP/JCP/CMM etc). The DCP will be the sole forwarding authority in Delhi region.

STEP 8: The application will be forwarded to RNI by the authority concerned with the proper name, signature and seal of the forwarding authority. * RNI will process the application only on receipt of hard copy duly forwarded by the authority concerned. * The applicant is advised to keep a copy of the application duly signed and forwarded by the authority to RNI for future reference.

STEP 9: Once RNI receives the hard copy of the application forwarded by the authority concerned, the applicant will be intimated the receipt of the application through an RNI reference number (Application Number), sent to their mobile number and e-mail.

STEP 10: The applicant should save RNI reference number for any future inquiry.

STEP 11: The applicant can check the status of the application on RNI website by either providing the DM number given by the forwarding authority or the RNI reference number.

STEP 12: The applicant can also download Title Verification Letter/Title non-approval Letter/Discrepancy Letter from the RNI official website. Once the title is verified, the applicant should get the title registered within ONE YEAR from the date of verification, to prevent de-blocking/cancellation of the title. The ownership of the title is non-transferable before registration.

Fresh Registration Detailed Application Process

LIST OF ENCLOSURES TO BE SENT ALONGWITH FRESH REGISTRATION APPLICATION-
1. A copy of the title verification letter issued by RNI.

2. Declaration (Form-1) filed by the Publisher and duly authenticated by DM/DC/SDM/JCP/CMM. (A separate declaration is required to be filed by the Printer as well, in the case where the printer is not the publisher thereof).

3. A written agreement between owner of periodical and keeper of printing press for printing the periodical, bearing signatures & designation of both the parties. (Where keeper of printing press and owner of the periodical is the same person, no such agreement is required to be furnished).

4. A copy of the first issue i.e., (volume 1, issue 1) brought out after authentication of declaration by DM/DC/SDM/JCP/CMM.

It is mandatory for publisher to ensure that:

i) The first issue is brought out within 42 days w.e.f. the date of authentication of declaration, in the case of a newspaper to be published once a week or oftener; and within 90 days, in the case of any other newspaper/periodical.

ii) The first issue had Volume 1; Issue 1 prominently printed on its front cover.

iii) The issue carries printed title, page numbers and date/month/year of its publication.

iv) The title/masthead is displayed in uniform font/letter size. Variation, if any, does should not exceed 25%.

v) The published newspaper/ periodical contains public news, views or comments.

vi) The newspaper/ is published only in the language(s) verified by RNI.

vii) Use of symbols, graphics, emoticons, etc. in place of a syllable/letter of a title is avoided.

viii) Imprintline in every published issue carries correct/complete information in the format: Published by __ Printed by _ on behalf of _ (name of the owner). Printed at _ (name of the printing press and its complete address). Published from (complete address of the place of publication, exactly as given in col.6 of Form-1). Editor ___. (Imprintline should be printed in either English or Hindi, in the case of a periodical which is published in regional/vernacular language).

ix) Only the term ‘Editor’ is used and other terms/nomenclatures like Editor-in-Chief, Chief Editor, Sub Editor, Resident Editor, etc. is avoided in the Imprintline.

5. Owner’s written authorization to individual (by name) to make and subscribe declaration as publisher/printer, in case where the publisher or printer making a declaration is not the owner thereof.

Revised Registration Application

LIST OF ENCLOSURES TO BE SENT ALONGWITH REVISED REGISTRATION APPLICATION
1. Original certificate of registration issued by RNI. In the case where the original certificate is lost/mislplaced, a notarized affidavit for the loss of original certificate alongwith an IPO of Rs.5/-

2. New Declaration (Form-1) filed by the Publisher specifying clear reason(s) for filing the same at relevant column and duly authenticated by DM/DC/SDM/JCP/CMM. (A separate declaration is required to be filed by the Printer as well, in the case where the printer is not the publisher thereof).

3. A written agreement between owner of periodical and keeper of printing press for printing the periodical, bearing signatures & designation of both the parties. (Where keeper of printing press and owner of the periodical is the same person, no such agreement is required to be furnished).

4. A copy of the issue brought out immediately after authentication of declaration or whichever is the latest.

It is mandatory for publisher to ensure that:

i) The issue had Volume & Issue numbers prominently printed on its front cover/page.

ii) The issue carries printed title, retail selling price (for priced publication), page numbers and date/month/year of its publication.

iii) The title/masthead is displayed in uniform font/letter size. Variation, if any, does should not exceed 25%.

iv) The published newspaper/periodical contains public news, views or comments.

v) The newspaper/periodical is published only in the language(s) verified by RNI.

vi) Use of symbols, graphics, emoticons, etc. in place of a syllable/letter of a title is avoided.

vii) Imprintline in every published issue carries correct/complete information in the format: Published by Printed by on behalf of (name of the owner). Printed at (name of the printing press and its complete address). Published from (complete address of the place of publication, exactly as given in col.6 of Form-1). Editor . (Imprintline should be printed in either English or Hindi, in the case of a periodical which is published in regional/vernacular language).

viii) Only the term ‘Editor’ is used and other terms/nomenclatures like Editor-in- Chief, Chief Editor, Sub Editor, Resident Editor, etc. is avoided in the imprintline.

5. An authorization in writing from owner(s), authorizing individual (by name) to make and subscribe declaration as publisher/printer, in the case where the publisher or printer making a declaration is not the owner thereof.

6. Penalty of `1000.00 per year, in the form of demand draft in favour of DDO, RNI, against non submission of annual statements. (Submission of annual statements to RNI is mandatory under Section 19D of PRB Act, 1867).

7. Change of ownership due to death/demise of the original owner:
i) A copy of death certificate of the deceased owner.

ii) A copy of certificate of family members, issued by the office of Tehsildar or any equivalent authority.

iii) A no objection cum transfer of ownership affidavit duly executed before the DM/DC/SDM/JCP/CMM, bearing signatures of all the surviving legal heirs of the deceased owner.

iv) The date of declaration mentioned at Enclosure 2 above should not precede the date of transfer of ownership .

8. Change Of Ownership (from an individual to another individual/entity):
i) A copy of transfer ownership affidavit duly executed before DM/DC/SDM/JCP/CMM. The date of declaration mentioned at Enclosure 2 above should not precede the date of transfer of ownership .

9. Change Of Ownership (from a firm/entity to an individual):
i) A copy of transfer of ownership affidavit duly executed before District Magistrate concerned by the authorized signatory of the firm/entity. The date of declaration mentioned at Enclosure 2 above should not precede the date of transfer of ownership .

10. Change Of Ownership Due To Change/Amalgamation In The Name(S) Of A Registered Firm/Entity:
i) A copy of Court’s order/decree, duly attested.

ii) A copy of certificate of incorporation for change of name, issued by Registrar of companies of the State concerned. The date of declaration mentioned at Enclosure2 above should not precede the date of incorporation of name.

11. Change of Ownership Involving Multiple Editions of the Same Title:
i) A copy of transfer of ownership affidavit, duly executed before the District Magistrate concerned. Transfer of ownership affidavit is to be executed for each edition separately before respective District Magistrate under whose jurisdiction the newspaper/periodical is being published/printed. Application for revised registration in such cases is to be submitted in RNI simultaneously for all editions. The date of declaration mentioned at Enclosure 2 above should not precede the date of transfer of ownership .

Duplicate CR

LIST OF ENCLOSURES TO BE SENT ALONG WITH APPLICATION FOR ISSUE OF DUPLICATE CR-
1. A notarized affidavit for loss of original certificate of registration.

2. An IPO of Rs.5/-

3. A copy of the authenticated declaration on the basis of which the newspaper/periodical got registered.

4. Penalty of Rs. 1000.00 per year, in the form of demand-draft in favour of DDO, RNI against non-submission of annual statements. (Submission of annual-statements to RNI is mandatory under section19D of PRB Act, 1867).

5. A copy of the latest issue.

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