Press and Registration of Periodicals Act 2023
Also called: PRP Act · Topic: Civil Society, Pressure Groups, NGOs and Self-help Groups · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Press and Registration of Periodicals (PRP) Act 2023 governs the registration of newspapers and magazines (periodicals). It replaced the colonial Press and Registration of Books (PRB) Act 1867. It came into force on 1 March 2024. Periodicals now register online with the Press Registrar General. Most offences under the old law are decriminalised, so they lead to penalties instead of jail. Unlike the old law, it does not cover books.
Example
Since March 2024, a publisher starting a new magazine registers it online with the Press Registrar General. The publisher no longer has to go through the old paper-based process of the 1867 Act.
Don't confuse with
- Press Council Act 1978: it set up the Press Council of India to check press ethics. The PRP Act deals with registering periodicals, not with their content or conduct.
Related concepts
- Fourth pillar of democracy
- Press Council of India
- Prasar Bharati
- News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority
- IT Rules 2021