Press Sewa Portal registration process launched by the Press Registrar General of India simplifies newspaper and periodical registration with digital access, real-time tracking, and deemed approval within 60 days.
Press Sewa Portal: A New Digital Revolution in Press Registration
India has embarked on a transformative journey in streamlining media regulation with the launch of the Press Sewa Portal by the Press Registrar General of India (PRGI), Yogesh Baweja. Introduced on August 19–21, 2025, this single-window digital solution aims to simplify the complex registration process for newspapers and periodicals under the new Press and Registration of Periodicals Act (PRP Act).
Why Single-Window Digital Access Matters
The Press Sewa Portal provides publishers—both established and emerging—with a seamless and transparent interface to submit new applications or renew existing registrations. Gone are the days of paperwork, long queues, and bureaucratic delays. Real-time status tracking enhances accountability, while automatic processing ensures that applications receive timely responses.
Key Features That Empower Publishers
A standout innovation is the “deemed approval” clause—applications are automatically considered approved if no response is issued within 60 days, significantly reducing arbitrary wait times.Additionally, the portal includes grievance redress mechanisms and urges publishers to avoid intermediaries, promoting direct engagement with the PRGI
Bridging Communication Gaps: Vartalap & Helpline
To foster open dialogue, the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Hyderabad, in collaboration with the PRGI, hosted Vartalap, the first interactive session of this kind in Telangana. Here, Additional Director General Shruti Patil addressed publisher concerns and announced a dedicated helpline to support users of the portal.
Strengthening the Media Ecosystem
The digital modernization of registration processes reflects the government’s broader commitment to efficient ease of doing business practices. Especially beneficial for smaller and regional publishers, the portal enhances transparency, cuts costs, and accelerates the pace of approvals—paving the way for a more dynamic, resilient media landscape.
B) Why This News Is Important
Enhancing Efficiency and Transparency
The Press Sewa Portal represents a significant leap in making the press registration process more transparent and streamlined. By digitizing the entire system and implementing the deemed approval in 60 days rule, the government effectively curbs administrative bottlenecks. This reform is especially vital for small and regional publishers, leveling the playing field and promoting a more inclusive media environment
Supporting Digital Governance & Ease of Doing Business
This initiative is aligned with India’s digital governance goals and reinforces the broader ambition of improving the ease of doing business. The one-stop digital platform enables publishers to bypass intermediaries, save time, and navigate the system with clarity—strengthening regulatory trust and efficiency.
Empowering Legal Compliance & Media Accountability
With the transition under the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023, fully enacted since December 2023, this portal helps publishers comply with the updated legal framework more effectively. It ensures timely registration, promotes accountability, and reduces the chance of non-compliance due to procedural delays. These changes are especially significant for students preparing for government exams, as they reflect how regulatory reforms underlie the functioning of media and governance in India.
C) Historical Context
Evolution of Press Regulation in India
India’s regulatory framework for print media has long relied on the colonial-era Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867. This changed in 2023, when Parliament enacted the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act (PRP Act)—modernizing and replacing the over 150-year-old law.
Role of the Press Registrar General of India
The Press Registrar General of India (PRGI)—a statutory body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting—manages the registration of newspapers and periodicals, succeeding the earlier Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI) organization established in 1956.
Digital Transition & Portal Launch
Even before the Act, PRGI began shifting toward digital processes: since March 2024, the registration process became fully online.This evolution culminated in the creation of the Press Sewa Portal, which institutionalizes and enhances the digital-first approach initiated earlier—bringing efficiency, transparency, and automation to press regulation.
D) Key Takeaways from “Press Sewa Portal Launch”
| S. No. | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Press Sewa Portal was launched by PRGI to simplify newspaper and periodical registration. |
| 2 | It serves as a single-window digital platform, replacing manual and paper-based processing. |
| 3 | Introduces automatic “deemed approval” if no response is provided within 60 days. |
| 4 | Offers real-time tracking, grievance redressal, and discourages use of agents. |
| 5 | PIB Hyderabad held an interactive Vartalap session and announced a helpline for publisher support. |
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Press Sewa Portal?
The Press Sewa Portal is a single-window digital platform launched by the Press Registrar General of India (PRGI) to streamline the registration process for newspapers and periodicals under the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023.
2. Who launched the Press Sewa Portal?
The portal was launched by Yogesh Baweja, Press Registrar General of India (PRGI).
3. What is the main benefit of the Press Sewa Portal for publishers?
It simplifies registration through digital access, allows real-time status tracking, provides a grievance redressal mechanism, and introduces automatic deemed approval within 60 days if no response is given.
4. Which law governs newspaper and periodical registration now?
The Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023 governs the registration process, replacing the old Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867.
5. What is the “deemed approval” clause?
If an application for newspaper or periodical registration is not processed within 60 days, it is automatically considered approved.
6. What is the role of the Press Registrar General of India (PRGI)?
The PRGI regulates and manages the registration of newspapers and periodicals in India, succeeding the earlier Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI).
7. What initiative was taken to explain the Press Sewa Portal to publishers?
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) Hyderabad organized an interactive session called “Vartalap”, where officials explained the portal and provided a helpline facility.
8. How does this portal help small and regional publishers?
It reduces dependency on intermediaries, cuts processing costs, ensures faster approval, and improves transparency, making it easier for smaller publishers to operate legally.
9. Since when has the press registration process been fully digital in India?
The registration process has been fully online since March 2024, before the launch of the dedicated Press Sewa Portal.
10. Why is the Press Sewa Portal significant for exam aspirants?
It highlights India’s efforts in digital governance, ease of doing business, and media accountability, which are important topics in government exams like UPSC, SSC, and State PSCs.
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