New Press Registrar General to oversee all periodicals, Bill specifies

It also sets rules for printing presses, ownership transfers, and discontinuation of publications.

Who it concerns: The law affects printers of periodicals, publishers, owners of periodicals (individuals, firms, or legal entities), and the Press Registrar General of India. It specifically applies to citizens of India or entities incorporated in India who wish to bring out a periodical.

What the bill does

• Mandatory online registration of every periodical with the Press Registrar General before printing or publishing.
• Appointment of a Press Registrar General of India by the Central Government to manage registration, maintain records, and verify circulation figures.
• Prohibition on bringing out a periodical for any person convicted of terrorist acts, unlawful activities, or offenses against the security of the State.
• Requirement for printers to furnish intimation to the Press Registrar General and local specified authority.
• Requirement for periodicals to print the name of the printer, place of printing, editor, publisher, and place of publication.
• Prior approval from the Central Government required for printing facsimile editions of foreign periodicals in India.
• Power of the Press Registrar General to suspend or cancel registration for false representation or failure to publish continuously.
• Mandatory intimation to the Press Registrar General within six months of discontinuing a periodical.
• Requirement to inform the Press Registrar General of any change in shareholding pattern within fifteen days.

Also in the document

• The Bill creates a new central authority, the Press Registrar General of India, with powers to inspect premises, access records, and impose penalties.
• It defines specific exclusions, such as books and academic/scientific journals, from the definition of 'periodical' for registration purposes.
• The text specifies that 'printing' includes mass production via any technology but excludes photocopying.