I&B Ministry
Borderless world in context of changing communication paradigm, says Rathore
New Delhi: Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore today said the global community was living in a borderless world in view of the changing communication paradigm. The advent of internet, online news, social media and satellite communication had completely overhauled the communication and information space.
Delivering his address at the 65th convocation ceremony of Diploma Course in Development Journalism at the Indian Institute of Mass Communications here, he said communication had been a critical component of the governments outreach strategy through people centric initiatives and innovative approaches.
Citing the example of Mann ki Baat broadcasts and My Gov Portal, the Minister said that innovative use of such two way communication platforms had helped government solicit the views from people for better Governance and to also understand their communication needs and perspective.
Earlier, Col. Rathore interacted with Indian Information Service officer trainees currently undergoing training at IIMC. He urged them to develop skills, aptitude and understanding of media landscape in taking forward the Government communication roadmap.
He also launched the social media platforms of IIMC and a memento as a part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Institute which was established in 1965.
The Development Journalism Course at IIMC was an endeavour towards promoting international cooperation and understanding, especially among countries of the Developing World, through the exchange of experience, expertise and innovations in the field of harnessing communication as a tool of development.
IIMC conducts a specific course on development journalism for media personnel from developing countries, sponsored by the External Affairs ministry.
I&B Ministry
Press Sewa Portal digitises 1.5 lakh records, streamlines periodical registrations: MIB
Online system spans 780 districts; Rs 5.6 crore penalties, 88,315 titles cancelled
NEW DELHI: India’s print media registry has quietly moved from dusty files to digital dashboards. The government has digitised more than 1.5 lakh historical records of newspapers and periodicals and shifted registrations fully online through the Press Sewa Portal.
Introduced under the Press and Registration of Periodicals (PRP) Act, 2023, the portal now handles all applications for registering periodicals, replacing the earlier paper-heavy system created under the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, which has since been repealed.
The digital shift brings a wide range of services onto a single platform. Publishers can now register new periodicals, revise registrations, transfer ownership, file annual statements, pay penalties online and apply for circulation verification without navigating government offices.
As part of the rollout, specified authorities in 780 districts across India have been onboarded onto the platform. Since 1 March 2024, the portal has processed 11,081 applications and issued certificates across different categories.
The transition has also brought stronger compliance. According to government data, Rs 5.63 crore in penalties has been collected through the portal so far. States such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh account for some of the largest penalty collections.
At the same time, the authorities have carried out a major clean-up of inactive or non-compliant publications. A total of 88,315 periodicals have been cancelled nationwide, with Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi among the states reporting the highest number of cancellations.
The government says the system will continue to evolve based on feedback from users. The Press Registrar General of India (PRGI) regularly reviews suggestions to improve services and make compliance easier for publishers.
The full list of registered newspapers and periodicals is available on the PRGI website under the Registered Titles section.
The information was shared in a written reply in the Lok Sabha by minister of state for information and broadcasting and parliamentary affairs L Murugan, responding to a question from Damodar Agrawal.
