I&B Ministry
MIB’s Rathore signals liberalised regime for online media
MUMBAI: Hardly 24 hours into his job and minister of state (independent charge) in the Information and Broadcasting ministry (MIB) Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore is saying things that could make him the industry’s and more specifically the independent media crowd’s darling.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Rathore emphasised that media has to opt for self-regulation and the government has no plans to regulate news portals and media websites.
He said most publications and TV channels are already self-regulating at various levels, first at the reporting journalist’s level and then at the editor’s desk. He added that this was a model that the government was more than happy to continue with and support wholeheartedly.
He clarified that media had misunderstood reports that it was setting up a committee to frame rules to regulate news portals and media news websites.
The prime minister is very clear that the media in our country is one of the very important pillars of democracy and they have to self-regulate, Rathore highlighted.
He said Prasar Bharati will be strengthened and high priority would be given to better and informative programmes.
He also pointed that “it is about a collective responsibility that media becomes the voice of the people, whether it is Prasar Bharati or private network or channel. We will work in this direction.”
Just yesterday, the baton was handed over from senior minister Smriti Irani to junior Rathore. He now has independent charge while she heads over to textiles. He has been in the ministry for the last four years as state minister and has finally got full command.
Also Read :
Smriti Irani moved out of MIB as Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore gets independent charge
MIB moves to regulate online media: various organisations join issue
Online media professionals write to Smriti Irani expressing regulation concerns
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.
