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New Delhi: The Office of the Press Registrar General of India (PRGI) has issued a new advisory for periodical publishers across the country. The authority, which functions under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, released Advisory No. 20 of 2026 on August 13, 2026. This directive establishes a strict, time-bound process for addressing issues in circulation verification applications submitted through desk audits. 
PRGI Sets 7-Day Deadline for Periodical Circulation Verification


Publishers apply for circulation verification of their periodicals through the online Press Sewa Portal. During the verification process, officials examine the submitted documents. If the scrutiny team finds any discrepancy, missing record, or error, the office generates an online Deficiency Communication (DC) for the applicant.
The advisory outlines strict compliance instructions for all applicants:
  • Seven-Day Response Window: Publishers must submit their complete reply and all required compliance documents within seven (7) days from the date the portal issues the Deficiency Communication.
  • Strict Application Rejection: The PRGI treats the seven-day period as a fixed and mandatory time limit. If an applicant fails to submit the necessary response within this timeframe, the office will reject the application.
  • Annual Bar on Re-Application: If the authority rejects an application due to non-compliance within the deadline, the publisher cannot submit a new application for the same purpose during the same financial year.
  • Regular Portal Monitoring: The authority advises publishers to log into the Press Sewa Portal regularly. Consistent monitoring ensures that applicants spot deficiency alerts immediately and respond before the cutoff date.
Deputy Press Registrar General Pamula Ratnakar issued the notification with the approval of the competent authority. The department operates from Soochna Bhawan at the CGO Complex on Lodhi Road in New Delhi. By introducing this measure, the PRGI aims to speed up administrative workflows, eliminate unnecessary processing backlogs, and ensure rapid disposal of circulation verification files. All registered publishers must monitor their portal dashboards actively to protect their verification status for the current financial year.