Newspapers given 31st May as deadline to file Annual Statements by RNI
After the financial year ends companies are engaged in issuing their annual statements as per the government order. This year, by May end we’ll see another round of financial statements being released. Registrar of Newspapers of India (RNI) in its latest order has made it mandatory for all the newspapers & periodicals to file their annual statements.
The order comes as the authority is undertaking a comprehensive exercise to modernize and streamline its functioning. It feels that filing of annual statements would help the government to assess the growth of the press in India.
The filing of annual statement is a compulsory task for all, according to the Press & Registration of Books Act, 1867.
The newspapers, who fail to file their statements by 31st May, will be deleted from the records of RNI as the authority would presume that the publication has been ceased. Also according to the rule book, failure to file the statement and false statements are punishable offences.
The total number of registered newspapers, as on 31st March, 2006 was 62,483. As of now 70,000 titles are registered with RNI. Of these, only 700 publishers file annual statements regularly. That accounts to be just the 10% of the total.
After the release of this order it would be observed how many newspaper organizations, considered to be the watchdogs of the society, mange to follow the code prescribed.
The order comes as the authority is undertaking a comprehensive exercise to modernize and streamline its functioning. It feels that filing of annual statements would help the government to assess the growth of the press in India.
The filing of annual statement is a compulsory task for all, according to the Press & Registration of Books Act, 1867.
The newspapers, who fail to file their statements by 31st May, will be deleted from the records of RNI as the authority would presume that the publication has been ceased. Also according to the rule book, failure to file the statement and false statements are punishable offences.
The total number of registered newspapers, as on 31st March, 2006 was 62,483. As of now 70,000 titles are registered with RNI. Of these, only 700 publishers file annual statements regularly. That accounts to be just the 10% of the total.
After the release of this order it would be observed how many newspaper organizations, considered to be the watchdogs of the society, mange to follow the code prescribed.
How to start a newspaper?
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 45 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
RNI & Rules
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.
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.
