The Union Cabinet has decided to amend the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 to streamline the age-old processes and to address certain issues governed by the Print Media Policy and the guidelines/rules.
The main features of the proposed Bill are as under-
(a) The new title would be Press and Registration of Books and Publications (PRBP) Act, 2010;
(b) Many new definitions such as ‘publications’, ‘newspapers’, ‘magazines’, ‘journals’, ‘newsletter’, etc. would be inserted;
(c) Internet edition of newspapers to be covered under the Act;
(d) Those convicted of terrorist acts or anything done against the security of the State would be prevented from bringing out a publication;
(e) Detailed provisions for verification of a title;
(f) Provisions to prevent blocking of titles to discourage non-serious publishers;
(g) Making statutory provision for circulation verification;
(h) Provisions with respect to limits on foreign news content (syndication) and foreign investments;
(i) Filing of annual statements by publishers to be made compulsory.
