The Parliament has passed the ‘Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023’ with the Lok Sabha approving it on 21st December 2023. The Rajya Sabha has already cleared it.
- It repeals the ‘Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867’.
Key provisions
- It seeks to simplify the online process of title verification and registration of periodicals by the Press Registrar General of Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI).
- It has provisions related to the circulation and verification of newspapers.
- It also has a provision for prior approval of the Central Government for the publication of facsimile editions of foreign periodicals in India.
- According to the Bill, a publisher of a periodical may make an application to the Press Registrar General for revision of particulars of the certificate of registration, or for revision of title.
- The Bill has a provision for the Appellate Board, to be called the ‘Press and Registration Appellate Board’ consisting of the Chairperson, Press Council of India and two members to be nominated by the Press Council of India, from among its members.
- The publishers would no longer be required to file a declaration with the District Magistrate, or the local authorities, or get such declaration authenticated by such authorities.
- Printing presses would also not be required to furnish any such declaration, instead an intimation by the printer would be sufficient.
- This bill covers only periodicals and newspapers, not the books.
