Printing and publishing of newspapers and periodicals within India are governed by the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 and the Registration of Newspapers (Central) Rules, 1956.
According to the Act, no newspaper or periodical should bear a title which is the same or similar to any other newspaper or periodical already being published, either in the same language or in the same State, unless the latter is also owned by the same person.
In order to ensure compliance of this condition, the Government of India has appointed the Registrar of Newspapers, also called the Press Registrar, who maintains a register of newspapers and periodicals published in India.
The Office of the Registrar of Newspapers for India is headquartered in New Delhi, and has three regional offices at Calcutta, Mumbai and Chennai to cater to the needs of publishers in all corners of the country. Addresses of the offices and the areas under the purview of each are given below:
1. The Office of RNI, West Block 8, Wing 2R.K.Puram, New Delhi - 110 066 Phone No.2610 7504/26108432, Fax No.26176553 Headquarter verification the following states.Jammu & Kashmir,Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana,Chandigarh, Delhi,Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan.and Entire country. For cirulation,
2. The Regional Office of RNI, MSO Building, Block 'DF', 2nd Floor, PO:CC Block, Salt Lake, CALCUTTA-700064, Phone No.337 8494
For: West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Sikkim, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Andaman & Nicobar Islands,
3. The Regional Office of RNI, A - 1 Wing, Ground Floor, New C.G.O. Complex, CBD Belapur, New Mumbai - 400 614. Phone No.27572953
For: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa,Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
4.The Regional Office of RNI, B Block, B Wing, 1 Wing, (B-2-B), CGO Complex, Rajaji Bhavan, Besant Nagar, CHENNAI - 600 090 Phone No.24911275.
For: Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry, . Lakshadweep.
The Press Registrar is assisted by a Deputy Press Registrar and four Assistant Press Registrars one each at the headquarters and the regional offices. There is also a Senior Circulation Officer and five Circulation Officers two at headquarters and one each in the regional offices to assist the Press Registrar in assessing the circulation claims of newspapers.
