Documents for RNI Certificate Registration and Title Verification

The Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI), more commonly known as RNI, was established on 1st July, 1956. Since then, it has been responsible for regulating and monitoring printing and publication of newspapers and periodicals based on the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 and the Registration of Newspapers (Central) Rules, 1956.

We have talked about What is RNI? briefly in the previous post and now in this post, you will get the list of all documents required for RNI Registration.

Documents List for RNI Certificate Registration

Below, you’ll find a list of all the necessary documents for RNI Fresh, Revised, and Duplicate Certificate Registration.

Fresh Registration

• A copy of the title verification letter issued by RNI. 
• Declaration (Form-1) filed by the Publisher and duly authenticated by DM/DC/SDM/JCP/CMM.
• A written agreement between the owner of periodical and keeper of printing press for printing the periodical, bearing signatures & designation of both the parties. 
• A copy of the first issue (i.e. volume 1, issue 1) brought out after authentication of declaration by DM/DC/SDM/JCP/CMM.
• An authorization in writing from owner(s), authorizing individual (by name) to make and subscribe declaration as publisher/printer, in the case where the publisher or printer making a declaration is not the owner thereof.

Revised Registration:

• Original certificate of registration issued by RNI.
• New Declaration (Form-1) filed by the Publisher specifying clear reason for filing the same at a relevant column and duly authenticated by DM/DC/SDM/JCP/CMM.
• A written agreement between the owner of a periodical and the keeper of the printing press for printing the periodical, bearing signatures & designation of both parties.
• A copy of the issue is brought out immediately after authentication of the declaration whichever is the latest.
• An authorization in writing from the owner, authorizing an individual (by name) to make and subscribe declaration as publisher/printer, in the case where the publisher or printer making a declaration is not the owner thereof.

Similar Post: How to Register a Magazine in India?

Duplicate Certificate: 

• A notarized affidavit for loss of original RNI certificate of registration.  
• An IPO of Rs.5/-  
• A copy of the authenticated declaration based on which the newspaper/periodical got registered.  
• Penalty of `1000.00 per year, in the form of demand draft in favour of DDO, RNI against non-submission of annual statements.  
• A copy of the latest issue.

Documents Required for Title Verification

• After receiving the RNI Title Verification Letter from the Press Registrar, the printer/publisher has to make a declaration before the Magistrate. The Declaration is to be made in Form I as given in the Schedule to the Registration of Newspapers (Central) Rules, 1956. Copies of the form will be available with the Magistrate
• If the printer and the publisher are different or the place of publication and printing come under the jurisdiction of two different magistrates, separate declarations should be made before the Magistrate(s).
• The Magistrate will either authenticate the declaration or issue an order refusing to authenticate it, as the case may be.
• A copy of each of the authenticated declarations will be sent by the Magistrate with his/her attestation to the person(s) who made the declaration and to the Press Registrar.

Guidelines Set by RNI for Title Verification 

The newspaper publisher or the owner must apply for the title verification to the authority. And, this application must be sent to the RNI within 180 days from the date of title verification. In case, the applicant does not apply to register the title, the title will blocked and made available for other newspapers. Now anyone can use this title.  

Similarly, if during the application process any issue occurs, then a Discrepancy letter is issued. The publisher or the owner has to reply to this letter within 30 days otherwise the application will be rejected. 

Note: The verification of the title, doesn’t mean that it is trademark registered or become a brand or company name. It only means that newspapers are registered with the Registrar of Newspapers under the PRB Act, of 1867. However, apply to relevant authorities for completing the registration of the mark, Brand Name, or other important approval.