The Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023
Administered Ministry: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Act details
| Short title | The Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Long title | An Act to provide for press, registration of periodicals and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto |
| Act number | 51 of 2023 |
| Act year | 2023 |
| Enactment date | 28 Dec 2023 |
| Ministry | Ministry of Information and Broadcasting |
| Jurisdiction | Central (Parliament of India) |
| Sections | 22 |
| Status | Not repealed |
| Last checked on India Code | 28 Oct 2026 |
| Source | India Code, Government of India |
Summary
Summary of Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023
The Press and Registration of Periodicals Act regulate the printing and publication of periodicals across India, ensuring transparency and accountability. It applies uniformly across all languages within the same State or Union territory.
Key Provisions
1. Scope and Extent
• Applies uniformly across all languages within the same State or Union territory in India.
2. Definitions
• Periodical/Newspaper: Includes publications in any language within a State/Union territory.
3. Registration of Periodicals
• Mandatory Registration: With the Press Registrar, applicable to all languages within a State/Union territory.
• Unique Title Requirement: Across languages within the same geographical jurisdiction.
4. Obligations on Publishers
• Annual Statement: Must include language-specific circulation and readership details.
• Delivery of Copies: To specified authorities, regardless of publication language.
5. Penalties
• Uniform Penalties: Apply equally to all language publications within a State/Union territory for non-compliance.
6. Authorities and Powers
• Press Registrar: Oversees registrations, verifications, and penalties across all languages in a jurisdiction.
Legislative history
Legislative History:
The Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023
Source: Official Record of Parliament, India Code, and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Act Title - The Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023
Act Number - Act No. 51 of 2023
Act ID (India Code) - 202351
Presidential Assent date - December 28, 2023
Enforcement Date - March 01, 2024
Nodal Ministry - Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Precedent & Historical Rationale
● Repeal of Colonial Press Act: Repeals the 156-year-old Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 (25 of 1867), decoupling book publishing from press registration and eliminating onerous, colonial-era penal provisions.
● Digitalization & Streamlined Title Allocation: Replaces physical declarations and District Magistrate sign-offs with an online portal (Press Sewa Portal) managed by the Press Registrar General of India (PRGI) to enable online title validation, registration, and ease of doing business for print publishers.
Parliamentary Trajectory & Enactment
● Formulation: Introduced by the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, to modernize press regulations, simplify administrative compliance, and encourage press freedom.
● Parliamentary Passage: Introduced in the Rajya Sabha on August 1, 2023; passed by the Rajya Sabha on August 3, 2023; and passed by the Lok Sabha on December 21, 2023.
● Presidential Assent: Received the assent of the President of India on December 28, 2023.
● Enforcement: Enforced on March 01, 2024.