The Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023, published on 29th December, repeals The Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, and provides for regulation of press and periodicals.
The Act defines 'periodical' as any publication, including a newspaper, which is published and printed at regular intervals containing public news or comments on public news, but it excludes books and journals from the definition.
The Act prohibits persons or entities convicted for a terrorist act, or unlawful activity, or any activity compromising the security of the State, from publishing periodicals.
The Act provides for Press Registrar General of India to be appointed by the Central Government, and prescribes functions such as issuance of certificate of registration to periodicals, maintenance of registers of periodicals, preparation of guidelines for admissibility of a periodical etc.
The Act mandates every publisher of the periodical to obtain a certificate of registration through online application to the Press Registrar General and to the specified authority of the local jurisdiction.
The Act also provides for revision of any particulars of the periodical, including the revision of title, transfer of ownership, and discontinuation of a periodical.
The Act mandates every periodical to legibly print the name of the printer, place of printing, name of editor, publisher and place of publication.
The Act mandates publisher of every newspaper in India to deliver one copy of each issue of the newspaper, free of cost, to the Press Registrar General and to the State Government, within 48 hours. The Act also mandates publishers to furnish annual statement of the periodical to Press Registrar General.
The Act mandates approval of the Central Government for publication of foreign periodicals in India.
The Act prescribes extensive powers of the Press Registrat General, including access to any relevant document of a periodical; access to enter any premises of a periodical at any reasonable time; power to revise, suspend or cancel registration of a periodical; and, imposing penalties.
The Act also provides for Press and Registration Appellate Board, for admitting appeals from persons aggrieved by the orders of Press Registrar General.
You can download the Act text here.
