RNI Registration

The RNI registration process is overseen by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, requires this department to manage the RNI and also mandates the creation of rules governing it. Before starting a newspaper, magazine, printing press, or similar business, it is necessary to obtain clearance from the RNI. Prior RNI approval is a prerequisite for commencing businesses in this field. Regional RNI offices are located in Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai, with the Ministry framing rules under the Press and Registration of Books Act of 1867. Hence, anyone planning to initiate a newspaper, magazine, or journal enterprise needs to obtain advance authorization from RNI. RNI's regional branches are situated in Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai.

To start a newspaper, journal, or printing press publication, the applicant shall be required to acquire an RNI registration from the Registrar of Newspapers. The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Controls is the respective authority authorized for approval & monitoring of journalists & publishers under the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867. Other than these, here are some key objectives of the RNI registration:

• Ensuring compliance & administration of a newspaper registrar.
• Verification of circulation assertions provided by publishers within their annual report.
• Confirmation of circulation declarations provided by publishers within their yearly reports.
• Consideration & issuing of registration with respect to newspapers issued with a valid declaration.
• Informing district magistrates regarding the availability of potential publishers to submit declarations.
• Inspection & audit of yearly reports submitted by registered holders under the Press and Registration of Books Act of 1867.
• Ensuring the production of journals and publications in pursuance of guidelines under the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, and the corresponding regulations. 

Any Indian or foreign entity desiring to start a newspaper, journal publication, or printing press, including any form of editorial or magazine publication, compulsorily needs to obtain RNI registration. Other than this, the following are needed to obtain RNI certificates:
 

1. Business Entity: Any corporation or entity intending to engage in the newspaper business in India must obtain RNI registration, which also applies to regional newspapers.
    
2. Editorials: Any type of editorial content, even within a newspaper's editorial section, needs to be covered by RNI registration.
    
3. Foreign Newspaper: Any foreign newspaper corporation or entity wishing to publish their newspaper in India must acquire RNI registration before the commencement of business.
    
4. Magazines: All types of magazines, regardless of the language they are in, are obligated to secure RNI registration.
    
5. Printing Press: Every printing press in India engaged in printing and publication is required to obtain RNI registration.

1. Address of the place of business
2. Date mark and the Page number 
3. Issue number and Volume number
4. Name and address of the business
5. Name of the Publisher, Printer, or Editor
6. Conspicuous display of cover page title & other pages

•  Letter for Title Verification 
• Details of the partners and directors
• Copy of Board resolution is mandatory
• Copy of the Certificate of Incorporation/Registration
• Copy of the inaugural issue of the newspaper publication
• Printer Agreement along with a duplicate of the printing press
• In the case of Partnership Deeds, a copy of the PAN Card shall be mandatory
• Proof of identification and address for directors, partners, and proprietors must be furnished
• Entity constitution documents such as Memorandum of Association (MOA), Articles of Association (AOA), Partnership Deed, etc
• In the absence of any foreign connections or support, an affidavit should be prepared, signed by the publisher, and appropriately notarized.

Every applicant desirous of initiating a publication company or entity shall be required to follow the following steps to acquire RNI registration:

• Title Verification Process: The applicant is required to adhere to the registration procedure for the title of the newspaper or publication. This process should be conducted using the aforementioned online method.
   
• Authentication of Declaration: After receiving the title verification documents, they should be presented to the appropriate authority (DM/DC/SDM/DCP/JCP/CMM). Additionally, Form I must be submitted for authentication. If the publishing and printing entities are separate, two distinct formal declarations are required.
   
• If these parties are situated in different districts, separate declarations from their respective districts are needed. As per PRB Act regulations, the publisher is accountable for submitting the declaration where the newspaper is published, while the printer must submit it at the newspaper's printing location.
   
• Publication of Volume: As per Section 5(5) of the PRB Act, the Volume and Year of Issue (Volume/Issue-1) must be published within 42 days of authentication, which is mandatory. This timeline is applicable for daily publications. For fortnightly publications, Volume/Issue-1 should be published 90 days after authentication. If the publisher and printer are in different districts, the publisher's location is used for authentication.
   
• If the volume or issue isn't published, a revised declaration must be issued and published. The declaration should specify the printing press's name, and the publication must exclusively be printed at that press. The content, including various article forms, releases, and journals, can be published in different languages as needed.

RNI Title Verification or Registration

RNI Title Verification is the process of verifying the title of a publication with the Registrar of Newspapers for India, also known as RNI. This is an essential step for an applicant looking to start a new newspaper, magazine, or periodical in India. Title verification ensures that the proposed title is unique and not already registered with the RNI, in order to avoid a common name or any other legal issues.

In order to achieve RNI registration, it is obligatory to complete the title verification process, which involves the following steps:

1. Access the Online Portal: To initiate the process, the applicant needs to access the official online portal. 
    
2. Review Instructions: The applicant should carefully read the instructions available on the website and check for any updates regarding the title verification process. Click on the 'online title application' tab.
    
3. Review Application: Before proceeding with the application for title verification, the applicant must thoroughly review all provided details to prevent potential issues in securing the title.
    
4. Provide and Submit Application Details: Complete publication details should be provided by the applicant, including mandatory information. A valid mobile number and email address are essential elements to include.
    
5. Submit Application to Authority: The application for title verification must be submitted to the relevant authorities, such as DCP in Delhi, who manage RNI registration matters.
    
6. RNI Application Review: The authority will forward the application to RNI, including their name, signature, and seal. RNI will assess the application upon receiving the hard copy. Processing begins only after the hard copy reaches RNI. Applicants are advised to retain a signed hard copy for future reference.
    
7. RNI Reference Number: Once the hard copy reaches RNI, they will review it and assign an RNI reference number. This reference number will be sent to the applicant's registered mobile number and email address.
    
8. Check Application Status: Applicants can check the application status or rni title verification status online by using the DM number or RNI reference number.
    
9. Take a copy of the title verification letter. In the final step, the applicant can download the title verification letter. The title will either be accepted upon meeting requirements or rejected if criteria are not met.

When designing the header for printing, it's essential to follow these guidelines:

• The font size of the title should not exceed 25% of the total masthead size.
• The title can be displayed either horizontally or vertically on the masthead.
• Every page must include the page number, along with the volume or issue number.
• The newspaper's title should be prominently featured on the masthead for easy identification.
• The title must be unique and not already used by another publication to ensure originality.
• For multilingual publications, the title should be clearly displayed in at least one of the languages on the masthead.
• If the heading is in a language other than English or Hindi, it should be presented consistently in the masthead, maintaining the appropriate font size.

Additionally, the masthead must include information such as the publication date, volume number, publication language, issue number, and other relevant details.

After obtaining registration, the inaugural edition of the newspaper should include a properly completed Form No. IV, which will serve as a declaration containing information about the ownership and other particulars of the newspaper. Furthermore, another essential requirement includes the submission of the annual statement using Form II, which must be done by the final day of May each year.

Obtaining the RNI Certificate for printing press, newspaper, magazine, and article publication could be a bit challenging due to the complex process of the documents required and the processes involved. However, with the right amount of guidance and consultation, you could easily acquire an RNI Certificate within the prescribed time. At Agile Regulatory we are committed to helping budding entrepreneurs by enabling them to acquire business licenses smoothly and carry on their business.