RNI Compliance Checklist for Small Hindi Newspapers (2026)

RNI (Registrar of Newspapers for India, now Press Registrar General of India) compliance is non-negotiable. A missing declaration, incorrect imprint, or unfiled annual statement can result in registration cancellation and ₹2,000–50,000 fines. Here's the complete 2026 checklist for small Hindi newspapers.

One-time setup

• Title verification from PRGI (prgi.gov.in). No other Indian newspaper can use the same title.
• Declaration Form II filed with District Magistrate (for single-district circulation).
• Authentication by DM — typically 15–30 days.
• Registration certificate issued by PRGI with your RNI number. This is your identity.

Every edition must have

• Imprint line on every page with: RNI number, Volume & Issue number, Date, Publisher name, Printer name, Publication address, Printing press address, Jurisdiction.
• Editorial slip on page 1 or the last page stating the editor's name responsible for content selection under Press Act.
• Price clearly visible on the front page.
• Mandatory pages: if you registered as 4-page minimum, every edition must have at least 4 pages.

Annual obligations

• Annual Statement filed with PRGI by 31st May each year. Includes circulation, language, periodicity, ownership.
• Declaration renewal if publisher/printer/address changed during the year.
• Copies submitted — minimum 2 copies of each issue to be sent to PRGI. Most small publishers skip this; it's still required.

Common mistakes and their fines

What to keep safe

• RNI registration certificate (original + scan)
• Declaration authentication by DM
• GST certificate (if turnover exceeds threshold)
• PAN of publishing entity
• Copy of every edition — last 3 years minimum

How XLR8 Print helps

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