RNI & Rules

RNI : The Registrar of Newspapers for India

The office of the Registrar of Newspapers for India, popularly known as RNI came into being on
1 July 1956, on the recommendation of the First Press Commission in 1953 and by amending the
Press and Registration of Books Act 1867. The Office of the Registrar of Newspapers is
responsible for implementation of the Press and Registration of Books Act. The Registrar of
Newspapers for India has its Headquarters at New Delhi. The Regional offices of RNI are at
Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.
How to start a newspaper?
1. The first step to start a newspaper is to get the title (name of the proposed newspaper) verified
from RNI.
2. For this the publisher has to make an application for title verification indicating the name,
language, periodicity, owner name and place of publication of the newspaper proposed, and
submit it to the District Magistrate concerned.
3. The District Magistrate after ensuring the credentials of the applicant, will forward the
application to the RNI, who in turn checks the availability of the title and if found verifies it. RNI
informs the DM and publisher, the availability of the title by issuing a letter of title verification.
4. After this, the publisher has to file a declaration with the District Magistrate in the prescribed
format available and can start publishing the newspaper.
5. The first issue of the newspaper should be printed within 42 days from the date of
authentication of the declaration if it is a daily or weekly and in case of other periodicals, within
90 days.
6. The application for registration can be submitted to the RNI along with an attested copy of the
declaration, copy of title verification, first issue of the newspaper and a ‘No Foreign Tie up’
affidavit duly attested by a Notary.
7. The newspaper should contain volume number, issue number, title prominently displayed on
the cover page and all pages, date line and page number on all pages and an imprint line
containing the name of printer, publisher, owner and editor, address of the place of publication
and name and address of the printing press.
8. If the printer and publisher are different persons, separate declarations are required.

What are the formalities required after registration?

A copy of the newspaper should be delivered to the RNI whenever it is printed. The first issue
after the last day of February should contain the Form No.IV duly filled in (Statement regarding
ownership and other particulars of the newspaper). It is also mandatory to submit an annual
statement in form II , on or before the last day of May every year. In case of daily newspapers,
an additional form AR-R may also be submitted.

When to file fresh declaration?

Whenever there is a change of publisher, printer, owners, periodicity and printing press, the
publisher/printer has to make a fresh declaration

Following are the services provided by RNI: -

Title clearance: The title cell verifies and approves titles for new publication in the country. The
applications are received from the Magistrates all over the country under section 6 of the Press
and Registration of Books Act, 1867. These are examined with reference to a database of titles
maintained in the office computer record. Titles are finally approved at the level of Press
Registrar.
Registration of Newspapers: Once the Registrar of Newspapers for India verifies the title, on the
basis of an authenticated application by Magistrate, the Publisher must apply for registration
within a period of two years. The following documents are required for registration:-
a) Copy of the Title Verification Letter.
b) Attested copy of the Declaration duly authenticated by the
District Magistrate/Additional District Magistrate etc.
c) Affidavit for No Foreign Tie-up duly notarized.
d) Copy of first issue of the publication brought out within 42 days in case of dailies and
weeklies and 90 days for fortnightly and above.
e) Copy of the latest issue of the publication.
In case the applicant does not apply for registration within the stipulated period of two years, the
title is deblocked and available to any other applicant.

Revised Registration Certificate: The publisher must apply for the Revised Certificate of
Registration in case of change of Publisher, Printer, Printing Press, Place of Publication and
Periodicity. He/She is required to submit the following documents on the basis of which Revised
Registration is issued: -

a) Original Certificate of Registration issued by the Office of the Registrar of Newspapers for
India and in case it is lost, he/she is required to submit the affidavit for loss of certificate duly
notarized along with the IPO of Rs.5/-.
b) Attested copy of the latest declaration duly authenticat by District Magistrate/Addl. District
Magistrate concerned. (Prescribed format is available on the website www.rni.nic.in)
c) Affidavit for No Foreign Tie-up duly notarized.
d) Latest issue of the publication.
e) In case of change of Editor or price, the declaration is not required. The publisher can intimate
these changes in writing. The changes will be entered in the Registrar of Newspapers records.
f) In case of change of ownership, the previous owner of the publication has to file an affidavit
for transfer of ownership duly certified by the concerned First Class Magistrate concerned and
the latest declaration filed by the present publisher/printer of the publication.

Circulation Check: Circulation verification of newspapers is undertaken with the authority

derived from Section 19 F of the Press and Registration of Books Act 1867. RNI takes up cases
for circulation check, which are referred to it by, DAVP/PIB/State Governments and the
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Check is also undertaken on the basis of serious
complaints against publications. Circulation checks are carried out on the basis of documents
and/or physical verification check. Certificates are issued as either Established, Lower
established or Unestablished.

The documents required for Verification of Circulation claim are under: -

a) A Photostat copy of Annual Statement for the year under verification. The publisher of daily
newspapers may also send Statement of daily Press in Form AR-4 (Statement regarding Daily
Press Newspapers). The form can be down loaded from the official website www.rni.nic.in.
b) Seven issues of each month of the year under verification for the dates (as specified in the
notice) in the case of dailies and one set of all issues in the cases of other periodicals. One copy
of the latest issue may also be sent.
c) Details of printing machinery, its make, size, speed per hour etc. of each machine, printing
schedule (page-wise and details) of the other printing jobs if any, along with Photostat copies of
print orders, printing charges bills and payee’s receipts as proof of payment for the month (as
specified in the notice)
d) Particulars of newsprint with opening balance as on the first day of April (the year as specified
in the notice), quantity purchase during the year under verification, total consumption during the
year and closing balance as on the last day of the year under check, the % age of wastage during
printing, Grammage of the newsprint used may also be indicated.
e) Photostat copies of the paper purchase bills for the year under check along with copies of the
payee’s receipts as proof of payment.
f) A statement giving details about the distribution of copies such as name of the agent/hawker,
stating number of copies sent, mode of despatch i.e. by rail, road, post etc., payment received,
mode of despatch along with Photostat copies of agency bills, payment receipts issued to
agents/hawkers dispatch receipts etc. for the month (as specified in the notice).
g) Profits and Loss account for the financial year under verification, month-wise sale proceeds
from April to March (the year as specified in the notice) along with Profit and Loss account may
be submitted, indicating the month-wise billed account of sold copies.
h) Permanent income tax number of owner, if any. If not, the reasons thereof.
Note: All Photostat documents must be attested by Gazetted Officer/Notary Public. Unattested
documents will not be entertained. Name, designation and office of the attesting officer should
be mentioned clearly.

Eligibility Certificate for import of Newsprint: The publisher/owner of newspaper/ periodical

registered with the Registrar of Newspapers for India, has to submit the following documents for
obtaining the Eligibility Certificate for import of newsprint (standard/glazed):-

a) Application form duly filled in and signed by the publisher/owner.

b) Photocopy of the Annual Statement for the previous financial year duly certified by the
Chartered Accountant and attested by Notary public.
c) Annual Return for import and consumption of newsprint for the previous financial year duly
signed by the Publisher/owner and certified by the Chartered Accountant in original.
d) Two Photocopies of Certificate of Registration issued by the Registrar of Newspapers for
India.
e) 12 copies of the publication i.e., a copy each of the month published during the previous
financial year along with the latest issue of the publication.
f)
Purchase of Indigenous Newsprint: The small and medium newspapers registered with the
Registrar of Newspapers for India can purchase indigenous newsprint as per their requirement by
producing Registration Certificate to scheduled mills recognized by the Government. The list of
scheduled mills is given below: -
Public Sector Mills

1. Nepa Mills Ltd., Nepanagar[Madhya Pradesh].

2. Mysore Paper Mills, 16/4, Ali Askar Road, Bangalore[Karnataka].
3. Hindustan Newsprint Ltd., Newsprint Nagar, Kottayam[Kerala].
4. Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Ltd., 16 Whites Road, Royapettah, Chennai.
5. Cachar Paper Mills, Jagi Road[Assam].
6. Nagon Paper Mills, Jagi Road[Assam].

Private Sector Mills

7. Aurgangabad Paper Mills, MIDC, Paithan, Tehsil Paithan, Distt. Aurangabad [Maharashtra].
8. Jayant Paper Mills Ltd., Utran, Distt. Surat[Gujarat].
9. Sun Paper Mills Ltd., P.B. No.2, Cheranmahadevi, Distt. Tirunelveli[Tamil Nadu].
10. Amrit Paper Divn. of Amrit Banaspati Ltd., SCO 55, Sector-26, Madhya Marg, P.B. No. 7,
Chandigarh-160019.
11. Ajanta Paper & General Products Ltd., Aban House, Ropewalk lane, Rampart Road, Fort,
Mumbai-400023.
12. Servalakshmi Paper and Boards Pvt. Ltd., 10-Z, Bharathi Park, 7th Cross,
Coimbatore- 641011.
13. Sri Venkatesa Paper & Boards Ltd., 123, Suryanarayan Chetty Street, Royapuram, Chennai-
600013.
14. Danalakshmi Paper Mills Ltd., 10-Z, Krishnaswamy Naidu Layout, Coimbatore-641011.
15. Indo-Afrique Paper Mills Ltd., Village Pande, Pune Satara Road, Taluk Bhor, Distt.
Pune[Maharashtra].
16. G.V.G. Paper Mills Ltd., Village, Palani Taluk, Distt. Dindigul Anna[Tamil Nadu].
17. Ram Paper Mills Ltd., Najibabad Road, Kiratpur, Bijnor[Uttar Pradesh].
18. The B.G. Shirke Construction Technology Pvt. Ltd.(Shirke Paper Division), Sirwal, Tehsil
Khawdals, Distt. Satara[Maharashtra].
20. United Pulp & Paper Mills Ltd., Arson, Tehsil Balachur, Distt. Hoshiarpur[Punjab].
21. Gulmohar Paper Limited, R.N. Tagore Road, Almabazar, Dakshinewar,
Kolkata[West Bengal].
22. Amravati Sri Venkatesa Paper Mills Ltd., Midapadi, Tehsil Palani, Distt. Dindigul Anna
[Tamil Nadu].
23. Lakshmi Board and Paper Mills Ltd., Plot No. 2, MIDC Area, Kalyan Bhiwandi Road, Distt.
Kalyan [Mahrashtra].
24. Simplex Mills Co. Ltd., Village Changora, Tehsil, Distt.Bhandra[Maharashtra].
25. Pudamjee Pulp & Paper Mills Ltd., Thergaon, Chinchwad, Distt. Pune[Maharashtra].
26. Gaurav Paper Mills, Village Hardoi, Tehsil Bramhapuri Distt. Chandrapur[Maharashtra].
27. Shree Industries Limited, Village Rajoda, Tehsil Bavla, Distt. Ahmedabad[Gujarat].
28. Shri Rajeshwaranand Paper Mills Ltd., Govali, Tehsil Jhagadia, Gujarat.
29. Rama Newsprint & Papers Ltd., Barbodhan, Tehsil Olpad, Surat, Gujarat.
30. Suryanarayana Paper & Board Pvt. Ltd., Nallour, Pushpathur, Palani Taluk, Dindigul Anna,
Tamil Nadu.
31. Ruby Macons Ltd., Vapi, Tehsil Pardi, Valsad, Gujarat.
32. Kamakshi Papers Pvt. Ltd., Gajraula, Tehsil Hassanpur, Morabad, Uttar Pradesh.
33. Pratap paper Mills Ltd., Jantipur, Tehsil Batala, Distt. Gurdaspur(Punjab).
BVV Paper Industries Ltd., Marichinaickenpalayam, Tehsil Pollachi, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
35. Madhya Desh Papers Ltd., Nava Bharat Bhavan, Cotton Market, Nagpur(Maharashtra).
36. Rawal papers Ltd., UPSIDC Industrial Estate Site-II, Amavan Road, Raibareli.
37. Shah Pulp and Paper Mills Ltd., Vapi, Tehsil Pardi, Distt. Valsad, Gujarat.
38. Ellora Paper Mills, Dewoda Khurd, P.O. Tumsar, Distt.Bhandara, Maharashtra.
39. Kasat Paper & Pulp Ltd., Village Bebedobal, Taluka Maval, District Pune, Maharashtra.
40. Sangal Papers Ltd, Mawana, Distt. Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.
41. Emami paper Mills Ltd., Village Balgopalpur, P.O. Rasulpur, District Balasore, Orissa.
42. Apex paper Mills Ltd., Sitabuldi, Nagpur, Maharashtra.
43. N.R. Agarwal Industries Limited(Unit NO.II), Plot NO.1, Phase-I, GIDC Vapi, Tehsil Pardi,
District Valsad, Gujarat.
44. Anurag Board & Paper Mills(P) Limited, Fazailpur, Tehsil Budhana, District Muzaffarnagar,
Uttar Pradesh.
45. V.G. paper and Boards Limited, Unit-II, Kolumam Tehsil Udumalpet, District Coimbatore,
Tamil Nadu.
46. Three Star Paper Mills Limited, Tehsil Dadri, District Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh.
47. Chandpur Enterprises Limited, Noorpur Road, Chandpur, District Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh.
48. Coastal Papers Limited, M.R. Palem, Kadiam Mandal, District East Godavari, Andhra
Pradesh.
49. Vishnupriya Paper Mill Private Limited, Jagannathpuram, Tehsil Ponneri District
Thiruvallur, Tamil Nadu.
50. Pragarati paper Mills Limited, Industrial Area Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
51. Kalptaru Papers Limited, Village Karoli, Tehsil Kolol, District Mehsana, Gujarat.
52. Ajanta Paper and General Products Ltd., GIDC Industrial Area, Village Jhagadia, District
Bharuch, Gujarat.
53. V.G. Paper and Boards Limited, Unit-I, Swaminathapuram, Taluk Palani, District Dindigul,
Gujarat.
54. Khatema Fibres Limited, UPSIDC Industrial Area, Lohia Head, Tehsil Khatema, District
Nainital, Uttar Pradesh.
55. Kaygaon Paper Mills Limited, Kaygaon, Tehsil Gangapur, District Aurangabad,
Maharashtra.
56. Malu Paper Mills Limited, Burjwada, Tehsil Savner, District Nagpur, Maharashtra.
57. Murli Agro Products Ltd., 488 Vadoda, Taluk Kamptee, District Nagpur, Maharashtra.
58. Sri Ramdas Paper Boards Pvt. Ltd., Unitt-II, Jegurupadu Village, Kadiyam Mandal, East
Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh.
59. Sri Ramachandra Papers Boards Limited, Yeditha Village, Mandapeta, East Godavri District,
Andhra Pradesh.
59. Rolex Paper Mills Limited, 4-96, Chintaparru, Palakol Mandal, West Godavari District,
Andhra Pradesh.
60. Cosboard Industries Limited, Jagatpur Industrial Estate, Distt. Cuttuck, Orissa.
61. M/s. Surya Chandra Paper Mills Limited, Mandapeta, District East Godavari,
AndhraPradesh.

The Headquarters of the Registrar of Newspapers for India is New Delhi. There are three
Regional Offices located at Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkatta. The following is the Organisational
Chart:

Press Registrar

Deputy Press Registrar

Assistant Press Registrar (Head Quarters) Administration

Section Assistant Director
(Official
Languages) Assistant Press Registrar (Circulation) Assistant
Press Registrar
(Regional Offices

Cash
Stores
Receipt & Despatch Circulation Officer (Heqrs) + 3 Regional Offices

Title Section
Registration –I
Registration – II
Registration – III
Newsprint & Coordination Section
Report Cell Hindi Section

Chennai Mumbai Kolkatta

2.8. The Office of the Registrar of Newspapers for India has the facility for the public to meet
senior officers thrice a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm.
The publishers’ can meet the officers during this period for their queries as well as grievance
redressal. It is also necessary that the publishers should furnish the complete documents, so that
RNI faces no difficulty to process the files in time. Strict adherence of the PRB Act guidelines
such as filing declarations with the District Magistrates concerned, submission of annual
statements by the publishers in time etc., are essential for the effective functioning of RNI.

2.9. The following arrangements have been made for the benefit of the publishers:
a) Annual Statements will be received at the Regional Offices of RNI located at Chennai,
Mumbai and Kolkatta, Regional/Branch Offices of Press Information Bureau, Directorate of
Advertising & Visual Publicity, Directorate of Field Publicity and the offices of District
Information and Public Relations Officers of all the States and Union Territories.
b) Publishers of the North-East Region can contact the Offices of Press Information Bureau for
their queries.
c) RNI’s website can be used for knowing about the status of the title verification applications
and registered publications.

2.10. It is the endeavour of RNI to discharge its functions within the stipulated time. For any
kind of grievance, officers of RNI can be contacted on phone or in person on three days in a
week i.e., on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 2.30 pm and 4.30 pm.

2.11. The addresses of the Offices are as under:

Headquarters Office of the Registrar of Newspapers for India,
West Block 8, Wing No.2, R.K. Puram,
New Delhi – 110 066.
Email address: www.rni.nic.in
Fax: 011-26176553 & 011-26106251
Telephone: (011) 26108432 & 26107504.

Regional Office:
Mumbai Office of Registrar of Newspapers for India,
Regional Office,
A-1 Wing, Ground Floor, New CGO Complex,
CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai-400614
Telephone No.022-27572953

2.12. Morning hours of the office: 9.30 AM : Closing hours of the office: 6.00 PM.
2.13. Implementation of Policy

Sr.
No. Subject/Topic Is it mandatory to ensure public participation Arrangement for seeking public
participation

1.
Annual Statement & AR 4 Forms
Yes. As per PRB Act all the publishers are required to submit annual statements and AR-4 form
(statement of daily press) latest by 31st May every year
Regional Offices of PIB, DAVP & DFP and District level officers of the Directorate of
Information & Public Relations of every states have been authorised to collect the annual
statements on behalf of RNI.

2.
Form IV Statement about ownership and other particulars about newspaper
Yes. All the publishers are required to publish the form in the first issue every year after the last
day of February.

Guidelines/Procedure for allotment of titles

Application Procedure –

1. Application for title verification must be routed through the Magistrate concerned
in the prescribed format.
2. The application for title verification must bear the seal and signature with date of
Magistrate concerned.
3. The application must contain the names of proposed title/titles, its language,
periodicity, owner’s name and address and place of publication.
4. The applicant shall have to give an undertaking that the title/titles proposed is/are
not owned by any Govt. agency.
5. Applications for title verification, incomplete in any respect would be liable for
rejection.
6. Titles would be allotted on first-come-first-serve basis, except in conditions laid
down under these guidelines.
7. In following cases title may be allotted on priority basis:
a. Where applicant produces NOC from Ministry of Information &
Broadcasting in case of a Foreign Title.
b. Where existing title owner applies for a title which is same as the title
owned by him and can not be allotted to any other.
c. In case of a direction from the court or any statutory authority, which is
binding and it is decided not to appeal against the direction/order.
d. Where a title is rejected by RNI inadvertently and on reconsideration it is
found that the same could have been allotted to the applicant.
e. In all other cases as decided by Press Registrar for reasons to be
recorded in writing.
Procedure to be followed for Title Verification –
1. Titles same or similar to a Foreign Title (F.T) in any language may not be
allotted until a valid license agreement with the foreign title owner is
produced.
2. As per PRB Act, 1867, same or similar title shall not be allotted in a State in
any language and in the same language no title same or similar to the
existing ones shall be allotted in the whole of India.
3. In cases where an applicant has applied for a title and a Discrepancy Letter
(D/L) is issued, the title would be blocked/held for a period of one month and
the applicant would be asked to furnish reply to the discrepancy within two
weeks of issue of the letter.
4. Titles having words same or similar to a government organisation, foreign
government organisation, institutions, prominent titles, trade marks or
prominent brands shall not be verified as these may mislead public or
exploit/misuse the name of the organisation/institution and may also violate
trade mark and copy right Acts.
5. In case of a periodical pertaining to a government department/institution or
any association/organisation, the ownership will be allotted in the name of
the organisation and the applicant would be advised accordingly.
6. Titles making use of any kind of symbol other than alphabets/numerals and
words sounding absurd or meaningless may not be allotted.
7. Titles which are Obscene or offending to public sense or titles having
symbols or any other object which may not be in public interest should not
be allowed.
8. Combining two independent titles to make one new title and extracts from
any existing title/s which does not make the new title substantially dissimilar
would not be verified.
9. Titles would be considered similar if they contain the same words whether in
same or in different order irrespective of language, place of publication and
periodicity.
10. Suffixing or prefixing the words relating to city, state, periodicities, language,
prepositions/adjectives, articles (A, An, The) etc., to an existing title can not
be considered as different. Such most commonly used words are: The,
Times, Daily, Dainik, Weekly, V/Wartha, Aaj, Today, Express, News, India,
National, Rashtriya etc. Suffix or prefix of such words does not necessarily
change the meaning of a title already verified. Therefore, titles with such
prefixes and suffixes shall be considered as similar titles.
11. Prefixing or suffixing any generic word to any existing titles, which does not
substantially alter formation or meaning to the existing title, would be
considered similar to the existing titles. However generic words shall not be
treated as proprietary.
12. In case of any doubt regarding same or similarity, the decision of Press
Registrar will be final.
13. Press Registrar shall have power to cancel a verified title, if not registered,
after recording the reason(s) in writing.
14. Titles resembling Government Organisations/Departments, names of
National Leaders and Heads of the Government functionary cannot be
verified in any language. Names of prominent political parties of
Central/State Government shall be considered with proper justification.
15. Any title which is same or similar to any national emblem or name or given
the impression of the patronage of Central Government or State
Government or shows any connection with any local authority or any
corporation or body or body corporate constituted by the government under
any law, or any international organisation such as UN etc., shall not be
allotted, as provided under “The emblem and names (Prevention of
improper use) Act, 1950.”
16. The list is illustrative, but not exhaustive.

REGISTRAR OF NEWSPAPERS FOR INDIA

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS

1. The Press and Registration of Books Act 1867 stipulates submission

of Annual Statement by each registered Newspaper/Publication on or
before 31st May of every year. Failure attracts penalty of Rs. 500/- per
Annual Statement under the PRB ACT.
2. A large number of Newspapers/Publications have defaulted in
submitting Annual Statements during the last several years. Such
defaulters are hereby advised to remit the requisite penalty amount of
Rs. 500/- for each year of default (per Annual Statement) positively by
31st March 2010, failing which action may be taken as per law.
3. The penalty is to be paid in the shape of Demand Draft drawn in
favour of “Drawing and Disbursing Officer, Office of RNI”, and can
be sent to the:-
Office of the Registrar of Newspapers for India,
West Block No-8,
Wing No-2,
R.K.Puram, New Delhi-110066