KATHMANDU: The Press Council Nepal (PCN) has announced that it will no longer register or list online news portals.
In a notice issued on Sunday, the Council stated that the decision follows recent legal amendments brought by the government through the “An Act to Make Amendment to Some Nepal Acts, 2025.” The new law amended the Press and Publication Act, 1991, and enforced the Printing and Publication (Second Amendment) Rules, 2025.
According to the Council, the new regulation does not authorize it to maintain records or listings of online media outlets.
Since 2013, the Press Council has been maintaining an official record of online news portals under the Online Media Operation Directives, 2073 B.S. and its first amendment in 2074 B.S. The Council used to collect a fee of Rs 3,000 from each online outlet, monitor compliance with the Journalists’ Code of Conduct, and issue listing certificates.
Assistant Administrative Officer and Joint Spokesperson Ram Sharan Bohora said that with the new legal provision in place, the Council will no longer handle the registration, listing, or orientation of online media.
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