"Print media witnessed 5.8 per cent growth during 2014-15": Press in India report

India remained an exception wherein the number of print publications grew owing to an increasing demand and subscriber base for the regional newspaper.

The 59th Annual Report on print media titled Press in India 2014-15, prepared and compiled by the Registrar of Newspapers for India, was released yesterday by Arun Jaitley, minister of information and broadcasting, finance and corporate affairs. As per the report, print media witnessed a growth of 5.80 per cent over the previous year with a total of 5,817 new publications registered during 2014-15. India remained an exception wherein print media registered growth owing to an increasing demand and subscriber base for regional newspaper. Meanwhile, 34 publications ceased their operations during that period.

Of the total 1,05,443 publications registered as on March 31, 2015, the largest number of newspapers and periodicals registered in any Indian language was in Hindi with 42,493 publications, followed by English with 13,661 registered publications. Of the 1,05,443 registered publications, 14,984 were dailies and bi-tri weeklies and the remaining 90,459 were other periodicals. A state-wise analysis showed that Uttar Pradesh topped the list with 16,130 publications by the end of 2014-15. Maharashtra came second with 14,394 publications, while Delhi came out with 12,177 publications.

Ananda Bazar Patrika (Bengali), Kolkata, was the largest circulated daily, with a circulation of 11,78,779. Hindustan Times (English), Delhi, stood second with a figure of 10,18,367.

Total claimed circulation of publications stood at 51, 05, 21,445 in 2014-15 as against 45, 05, 86,212 copies per publishing day in 2013-14. The number of annual statements received in RNI for the year 2014- 15 was 23,394 against 19,755 in 2013-14 -- an increase of 18.42 per cent. As per report, circulation-wise, Hindi Publications continued to lead with 25,77,61,985 copies per publishing day followed by English with 6,26,62,670 copies, and Urdu with 4,12,73,949 copies per publishing day.

The report also carried different chapters such as ownership of newspapers, analysis of daily newspapers, language-wise study of the press, and analysis of registered newspapers.

The annual report "Press in India- 2014-15" was prepared on the basis of analysis of annual statements filed by registered publications. The registered publications were required to file annual statements giving details including circulation figures under the Press and Registration of Books Act 1867. The report provided a broad analysis of the general trend of the Indian Press based on the claimed circulation.