What is RNI Registration in India?

(The Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI) was renamed the Press Registrar General of India (PRGI) on March 1, 2024)

RNI Registration refers to the authorization to publish newspapers and periodicals in India. All the publications in India, All the publications in India, such as the newspapers and magazines, are registered with the Press Registrar General of India (PRGI), formerly known as Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI), in accordance with the provisions of the Press & Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023.

If you want to establish your newspaper or publication, obtaining an RNI certificate is a must to legally start the process. 

Why is RNI needed?

The doorbell ringing in the morning is one thing that you always look forward to. As you open the door of your house, you are greeted by the paper for today below and the sunlight above. You accept the news of the day with open arms and get on with your day. But what if you start to inspire others through your very own magazines or newspapers? What if you had the legal authority to launch your own publication?

The Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023 governs the introduction and printing of new periodicals, magazines, and newspapers in India. This act established a regulatory body called the Press Registrar General of India (PRGI). PRGI was formerly known as Registrar of Newspapers in India (RNI) when the colonial act of Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 was still in force. It’s only after PRGI issues the RNI newspaper registration or RNI magazine registration that newspapers, periodicals and magazines get the right to be published in India.

The responsibility of the RNI is to:

1. Issue the RNI certificate to the newspapers so that they can be published.
2. Compile and maintain the Register of Newspapers that are being published.
3. Verify the claims of circulations and watch over the contents that are published.

Eligibility Criteria for RNI new Registration in India

The process of RNI eFiling gov registration is important for the following entities:

1. Those who want to publish newspapers: Those who want to publish their own newspaper need to fill the RNI newspaper registration form
2. Those who want to publish magazines: Those who want to publish a periodical magazine, you need to obtain RNI registration for the magazine.

Exemptions

If you're running a news portal, you're not required to apply for RNI registration as news portals in electronic form don't fall under the jurisdiction of RNI.

You can get more information about the eligibility criteria for RNI registration by accessing the website of newspaper registrar in India. If you don't have the time, you can consult with our experienced RNI consultants at Registrationwala.

Documents Required for RNI Registration in India

The documents required for RNI registration for Title (Level 1) registration are as follows:

1. Your ID proof
2. Your address proof
3. No objection Certificate if the publication is foreign
4. Copy of a previous title, if any.
5. A passport sized Photo.

Note: There is no RNI registration cost

The documents required for the first issue (publication) to obtain RNI registration are as follows:

1.Title verification Letter

2. Authenticated Declaration

3.Written agreement with the publisher is applicable

4.Copy of the first issue

5. Authorization letter between owner and the publisher if applicable

Process of Obtaining The RNI Registration In India

The process for obtaining RNI registration has changed with the introduction of the Press & Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023. Earlier, RNI registration process was manual and cumbersome but now RNI registration process has to be completed online using the Press Sewa Portal.

RNI Registration using Press Sewa Portal involves the following steps:

Owner is Required to Sign Up as a User

To begin with the RNI registration process, the owner of the proposed newspaper, magazine or any other periodical publication must sign up as a user and create a profile on the Press Sewa Portal by providing all the necessary details along with 5 proposed titles must be provided in order of preference. 

These title options must be unique and non-offensive in nature. Additionally, they must be in accordance with the rules set by the Press Registrar General of India (PRGI) for this purpose and cannot be same/similar to a title already held by any other periodical’s owner, either in the language in the same state or in the same language in any part of India.

Simultaneous submission to Specified District Authority & PRGI

All the applications for RNI registration that are submitted via the Press Sewa Portal are accessible by the Press Registrar General and the Specified Authority in the District simultaneously. Because of this, no further application needs to be submitted to any other offices or portals. 

Invitation must be sent to Publisher by the Owner

After the profile is created, the newspaper or magazine owner must invite their designated publishers associated with the newspaper or magazine using the Press Sewa Portal. Without an invitation from the owner account, the publishers cannot create an account on the portal.

Printer (Owner/Keeper of Printing Press) is Required to Sign Up as a User

The printer, who may be the publication owner or keeper of the printing press, needs to create an online account on the Press Sewa Portal and mention all the necessary details which the portal requires. 

According to the Press & Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023, the term “keeper” is defined as “a person who manages the day-to-day operations of a printing press, the owner of which is a non-individual entity.” 

Signing Up and Creation of Profiles by Publisher

Once the publishers are invited or appointed by the owner, they must create their profiles on the Press Sewa Portal by providing all the relevant information.

Selection of the Printer by Publisher

The publishers must select or nominate their particular Printing Press from the Press Sewa database as part of the magazine registration process in case the Printing Press account is already available on the Press Sewa Portal's database. If not, the publishers can ask the printer to set up a Press Sewa Portal profile, which will allow the publishers to choose them as the printer for the planned magazine.

Submission of RNI Registration Application by Publisher

Once profiles of publishers and printers are created and all the necessary details are provided in the magazine registration application, the application requires e-signature. Once the application is signed digitally, a payment of prescribed fee must be made with the help of Bharatkosh digital payment system which is integrated in the Press Sewa Portal. This prescribed fee is Rs. 1000.

Correction Window for Submitted Application

After submission of the newspaper registration application, there are chances that you might notice some errors. If not, then you don’t have to worry. Even if you do notice any errors, you still don’t have to worry as the Press Sewa Portal allows publishers to make modifications in the application for newspaper/magazine/periodical registrar even after it’s submitted. However, it is important to note that such modifications can only be made within 5 days i.e., 120 hours. After this period, no modifications can be made in the RNI application.

Unique ARN for Future Reference

Once the RNI registration application is uploaded on the portal successfully, the portal will generate an acknowledgement along with a unique 10-digit alphanumeric Application Reference Number (ARN). For all future references and correspondences, the publishers and PRGI are required to use ARN.

Initial Review of RNI Registration Application

After the initial review of RNI registration application, if necessary, the Press Registrar General of India (PRGI) office will issue a deficiency communication. The publishers must provide their responses within a 30 days period. Publisher’s failure in adhering to this specified period will lead to the rejection of the RNI registration application.

Our Assistance to get the RNI registration in India

Why should you choose us as your RNI Registration Consultant?

When it comes to RNI registration agency that knows what they are doing, people look at our RNI consultants. India is a place with many thriving business licensing experts. But, what sets us apart from the rest is the multifaceted assistance that we provide for RNI registration:

1. Getting RNI registration: Our services associated with thorough RNI registration involves high input from our side, and low RNI online registration fees from yours. We have made RNI registration charges low because we truly believe in freedom of expression. That belief pushes us into giving services to anyone willing to provide proper publication in India.
2. Canceling RNI registration: If you require cancellation of RNI registration, for any reason, just come to us with the requirement, and our consultants would see to it so that it’s done.
3. RNI registration renewal: From filing the RNI revised registration certificate application, checking the RNI revised registration status, to getting your certificate, our experts assist you in every aspect.

Our RNI Consultants are active all over India!

Consider the popularity of the license in the RNI registration metropolis. Think how much people can get the right news at the right time if only you get the chance to give it to them. Keeping that in mind, we have established our foothold in multiple metropolitan regions:

• Delhi: Our RNI registration consultants in Delhi know the lay of the land of news that happens in this political nexus of India. Thus, your friendly RNI registration consultant in Delhi provides thorough services in this regard.
• Kolkata: Moving to the east, we have also established our foothold in Bengal as the premiere RNI registration consultant in Kolkata.
• Mumbai: Providing new registration services in India’s most politically volatile state, our RNI registration consultants in Mumbai ensure all your requirements are fulfilled within the time you require us to.
• Chennai: Our RNI License consultants in Chennai are the leading business license consultant in the. Reach out to them to know more.
• Hyderabad: Reach out to our RNI registration consultants in Hyderabad for complete RNI registration details on how you can establish your newspaper or magazine there.
• Kerala: We also have an active RNI registration agent in Kerala to assist you with rni paper registration.

Get RNI certified within a specified time!

It merely takes three to four months to get the online RNI registration. The time is worth it, for we are the ones that take on the task to get you the registration:

1. We file your RNI online registration form, and offline one.
2. We keep a watchful eye on the RNI certificate status or RNI application status.
3. If we see any discrepancies as we are seeing the RNI registration certificate status, we deal with them.
4. We make sure to deliver the RNI online registration certificate in a timely-manner.

Registrationwala takes into account your requirements and delivers business certifications as per them. Contact us if you want hassle-free RNI registration.

So, don’t wait. Take the first stride towards starting your publication today. To reach out to our consultants for RNI registration, the contact number is there right on the page.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is RNI Registration?

A. RNI Registration is the authorization to publish newspapers in India. Provided by the Registrar General of Newspapers in India now known as Press Registrar General of India (PRGI), the RNI Registration is a part of the Press & Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023.

Q2. Which act regulates the RNI?

A. The Press & Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023 oversees introducing and publishing a new newspaper, magazine, or periodical. This act established a regulatory body called the Press Registrar General of Newspapers in India (PRGI) of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Q3. What are the functions of the RNI?

A. The functions of the RNI are to:

• Compile and maintain the Register of Newspapers that are being published.

• Issue the RNI certificate to the new publications, be it newspapers, magazines, periodicals, etc.

• Verifying the claims of circulations.

• Keep vigilance of the contents that are being published.

Q4. Who can apply for RNI registration?

A. The e-Filing for the RNI registration is important for the following entities:

• Those who want to publish newspapers: Those in need of publishing their newspapers need to fill out the RNI newspaper registration form.

• Those who want to publish magazines: You need to obtain RNI registration for magazine if you want to publish periodical magazines.

Q5. In which case(s) the RNI registration is not required?

A. If you're running a news portal, you're not required to apply for an RNI number, as news portals in electronic form don't fall under RNI’s jurisdiction.

Q6. What documents must be submitted to the authority to file for a publication's title registration?

A. The documents required for RNI registration for Title (Level 1) registration are as follows:

• ID proof

• Address proof

• No objection Certificate if the publication is foreign

• Copy of a previous title, if any.

• A passport-sized photo.

Q7. What is the cost of RNI registration with RNI?

A. The fee for RNI registration with the Press Registrar General is Rs. 1000.

Q8. What documents must be submitted to the authority to file for a publication's first issue registration?

A. The documents required for RNI registration for first issue (publication) registration are as follows:

• Title verification Letter.

• Authenticated Declaration.

• A written agreement with the publisher is applicable.

• Copy of the first issue.

• Authorization letter between owner and the publisher if applicable.

Q9. What is the new name of RNI?

A. The Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI) has been renamed as the Press Registrar General of India (PRGI) with the enforcement of Press & Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023.