OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR OF NEWSPAPERS FOR INDIA (Ministry of Information & Broadcasting) Soochna Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110003

3. How do I apply for verification of a new title?

An applicant must fill in title application form online through the following link Online Title Application Form and then Submit. A printout of the same must be submitted in the office of Authenticating Authority (DM/DC/SDM/DCP/JCP/CMM etc.) concerned for putting his stamp/seal and signature. Thereafter, the Authority forwards the application to RNI for verification of title.

4. How to check availability of a title to ensure that my application does not get rejected by RNI on similarity grounds?

Log on to www.rni.nic.in. Click on the tab Verified Titles to scan out the existing titles. Applicants are advised to search using string or part of a word/syllable in place of using the entire word/syllable for better results. (This guideline is given only to facilitate an applicant’s options in choosing the titles. Hence, does not necessarily guarantee the applicant of the title he/she so proposes).

5. What is the stipulated period to apply for Registration (with RNI) of a title after its verification by RNI?

The Publisher has to submit the application for registration within a period of 6 months from the date of title verification. Any verified title for which registration application is not received with in a period of 180 days will be de-blocked for other users.

6. What happens to a verified title whose registration application is not submitted within a period of 180 days?

The title automatically gets de-blocked.

7. What is to be done after a title is deblocked?

A fresh application for verification of title will need to be submitted through the Authenticating Authority.

8. A title has been verified in bilingual/multilingual. Does that require filing of a separate declaration for each language?

No. Only a single declaration is required to be filed. All the verified languages must be indicated at col.2 of the said decalartion.

9. A title has been verified in bilingual/multilingual. Does that require publishing of a separate volume for each language?

No. Only a single volume carrying contents/articles in all the verified languages is to be published.

10. What procedures do I follow to get the verified title registered with RNI?

The following documents are to be submitted in the office of RNI for getting the newspaper registered:

1. Declaration (Form I) filed by the publisher/printer before the District Magistrate. To download Form I, click FORM OF DECLARATION The declaration need to be forwarded by the DM/Authenticating office directly to the O/o RNI. Photocopies of declaration/ submission of declaration by the publisher/agent/owner etc will not be accepted.
2. A copy of the First Issue bearing Volume 1 & Issue 1. The first issue is to be submitted by the Publisher.

Click on the following links to find out the complete list of enclosures: NIC to provide new link

11. Is the change in periodicity of a verified title permissible at the time of filing a declaration?

Yes. The desired periodicity must be mentioned at col.3 of Form I at the time of filing declaration before the District Magistrate. The same applies for revised registration (Revised registartion: if there are any changes in a registered newspaper, publisher will have to apply for revised registartion certificate).

12. Is addition of language(s) at the time of filing declaration permissible?

No. A Publisher is required to submit a new application for verification of title in the desired language(s) through the District Magistrate concerned. The same applies for revised registration.

13. Is it permissible to drop a language of a verified bilingual/multilingual at the time of filing declaration?

Yes. Any number of languages can be dropped. However, publisher must ensure that the newspaper is published only in the declared language(s). The same applies for revised registration.

14. Is it permissible to shift the place of publication of a verified title from one district to another in the same State?

Yes. Reason (i.e; shifting of Place of publication) must be specified at col.11(c) of Form I. The same applies for revised registration.

15. Is it permissible to change the place of publication of a verified title from one State to another at the time of filing a declaration?

No. Such changes require a new application for verification of title through the DM concerned of the new State. The same applies for revised registration.

16. Do RNI permits the transfer of ownership of a verified title before registration?

No. Transfer of ownership can be done only for registered newspapers.

17. Is there any timeline for bringing out the first issue of a newspaper?

Yes. The first issue (i.e. volume 1, issue 1) must be brought out within:

1. 42 days of authentication of declaration in the case of a newspaper to be published once a week or oftener (i.e; Daily, weekly etc.) and
2. 90 days in the case of any other newspaper(i.e; Fortnightly, monthly etc) .

18. What is to be done when the first issue had been published before the authentication of the declaration by DM?

Two things could be done:

1. The issue to be published immediately after authentication of declaration may be re-numbered as Volume 1, Issue 1, Or,
2. A copy of the issue brought out immediately after authentication of declaration may be submitted along with a written undertaking requesting RNI to treat the same as the first issue (i.e. Volume 1, Issue 1).

19. The first issue cannot be brought out within the given 42/90 days. What is to be done?

A new declaration must be filed before the DM and thereafter the first issue must be published.

20. Do i need to renew RNI registartion or certificate yearly?

No, once issued RNI registration or certificate doesnot require any renewal. Only if there are any changes in the registration details, publisher needs to apply for revised registartion.

21. What happens to the authenticated declaration when the first issue cannot be brought out within the given 42/90 days?

Such declaration shall become null and void.

22. What are the documents required for revised registration?

The following documents are required to be submitted:

1. The declaration filed by the publisher authenticated and forwarded by the Authenticating authority through official channel to O/o RNI (through official email or registered post)
2. Original certificate of registration issued by RNI to be returned. In the case where the original certificate is lost/misplaced, a notarized affidavit for the loss of the original certificate proforma available on rni.nic.in).
3. A copy of the latest issue brought out immediately after authentication of declaration or whichever is the latest.
4. Any pending penalty must be paid and UTR to be filed online at egov.rni.nic.in. The Guidelines are available on (Online Payment System for paying the penalty to RNI)
5. Regularity Certificate issued by DM/DIPR/ PIB or 50% issues of the publication (only in case Annual Statements were not filed for the last 3 years consecutively).
6. In case there is only a change in the Editor / Price of the issue, a simple letter from the Publisher/ Owner to RNI on his/her official letterhead will be sufficient to change the records in RNI. However,RNI will not issue a revised certificate in this process. For getting a revised certificate, a new declaration authenticated by the specified authority will be required.

23. What are the documents required for revised registration involving the change of ownership?

The following documents are required to be submitted:

1. The declaration filed by the publisher authenticated and forwarded by the Authenticating authority through official channel to O/o RNI (through official email or registered post)
2. Original certificate of registration issued by RNI to be returned. In the case where the original certificate is lost/misplaced, a notarized affidavit for the loss of the original certificate proforma available on rni.nic.in).
3. A copy of the latest issue brought out immediately after authentication of declaration or whichever is the latest.
4. Any pending penalty must be paid and UTR to be filed online at egov.rni.nic.in. The Guidelines are available on (Online Payment System for paying the penalty to RNI)
5. Regularity Certificate issued by DM/DIPR/ PIB or 50% issues of the publication (only in case Annual Statements were not filed for the last 3 years consecutively).

24. What is the process involved to transfer/change the ownership of a registered newspaper?

The owner must first execute an affidavit for transfer of ownership before the District Magistrate concerned. Click on Affidavit for transfer of ownership PDFto download the relevant Form. The same is to be submitted to DM/ LA office along with the declaration for Registration and other documents as required by the DM office. RNI office will only act on the original declaration received in this case from the DM office. No direct submissions will be entertained. Please check the Guidelines available at the website of RNI for more details.

25. Can the change in the name of Editor be incorporated without filing a new declaration?

Yes. Publisher may submit a written request to incorporate the change in Editor’s name. The letter must clearly specify the name and address of the incumbent and must also be accompanied by a copy of the latest issue of the periodical in the imprintline of which name of the new Editor is printed.

26. Change in the selling Price of a newspaper be incorporated without filing a new declaration?

Yes. Publisher may submit a written request to incorporate the change in the Price. The letter must clearly specify the amount of enhanced retail selling price. Such request must also be accompanied by a copy of the latest issue of the periodical to substantiate the change.

27. How to obtain a Duplicate registration certificate if original RNI certificate is lost?

Following documents are required to be submitted by the Publisher for getting a duplicate certificate.

1. A notarized affidavit for loss of original certificate of registration by the publisher/ owner.
2. Any pending penalty must be paid and UTR to be filed online at egov.rni.nic.in
3. A copy of the latest Issue.

28. How do I restart publication of a registered newspaper after a long halt?

The publisher must file a new declaration before DM concerned by clearly specifying the reason (For example, ‘To restart publication after a long gap’, etc.) at col.11(c) and restart the publication by numbering the issue brought out immediately after authentication of declaration as volume 1 and issue 1. Registration number of the said periodical shall be retained. However, the seniority (i.e. the establishment year) shall be forfeited. The application procedure is same as for the Revised Registration (see Point #21)

29. How do I permanently cease/discontinue publication of a newspaper/periodical?

Form I must be filed before the DM, clearly specifying the reason ‘To permanently cease publication of (title of newspaper/periodical), registered under RNI No. ’ at col.11(c). RNI certificate must be surrendered in original. Such application is to be routed through the DM concerned.

30. How do I get answer to any other query not covered in the FAQs?

You may contact RNI office either on phone/email/through virtual meeting or by visiting the RNI HeadQuarters at Soochana Bhawan, Lodi Road, New Delhi 110003 (link to token generate/grievances)