ISSN Registration in India for Journals and Magazines
ISSN registration gives your journal, magazine or newsletter an eight-digit serial number, assigned free of charge by the National Science Library in New Delhi. The application is online and the Centre needs a specimen issue or a working website. We prepare the file so it is not sent back.
What it is
An ISSN, the International Standard Serial Number, is an eight-digit code for a serial publication: a journal, magazine, newspaper or monographic series that comes out in parts and is meant to continue indefinitely. It identifies the title, not any single issue.
In India, ISSNs are assigned by the National Centre for ISSN at the National Science Library (NSL), part of NIScPR in New Delhi. Applications go through the online system at nsl.niscpr.res.in. The Centre follows ISO 3297, which also means books are not eligible. A book needs an ISBN instead.
Say a college in Haryana plans a quarterly research journal. The editors have the articles ready but no ISSN. Authors will not submit to an unnumbered journal, so the application comes first, not last. Here is the catch: the Centre looks at the specimen closely, so a thin first issue gets returned.
Who it applies to
Academic and research journals
A college, university or society starting a peer-reviewed journal needs an ISSN so libraries and indexing services recognise it.
Magazines and newsletters
A trade magazine, an association bulletin or an in-house periodical that appears monthly, quarterly or yearly can apply once it has a stable title.
Online-only publications
A web journal or digital magazine applies for an online ISSN. A publication in both print and online form needs one for each.
Why it matters
Libraries and indexers rely on it
Library catalogues, abstracting services and subscription agents identify a serial by its ISSN. Without it, your journal is hard to find and cite.
Citations stay clean
Authors and researchers cite the journal with its ISSN, so your articles are traced to the right title even if similar names exist.
It signals a real publication
A journal carrying an ISSN, with publisher name and address shown on it, looks credible to authors, readers and reviewers.
Documents required
Publisher details
- Self-attested address proof of the publisher
- Publisher name and complete postal address
- Contact email and phone number
For a print serial
- A complete issue or advance mock-up with cover, title page and editorial page
- Around five to six original articles
- Editorial board with institutional addresses
For an online serial
- A working URL showing the first issue
- Temporary login if the content is subscription-only
- At least five articles, or ten for an annual title
How it works
Fix the title and format
We settle the title, language, frequency and whether you need a print ISSN, an online ISSN, or both. A title change later means a new ISSN.
Prepare the specimen
We help assemble the issue or website pages the Centre expects: cover, masthead, editorial board and the required number of articles.
Submit on the NSL portal
We fill the online form with your publisher and serial details and attach the specimen and address proof.
Respond to queries and print the ISSN
If the Centre asks for changes, we answer promptly. Once assigned, show the ISSN with publisher name and address on every issue.
Timelines
Processing period
The Centre states a minimum of 30 working days. Incomplete files, or several titles applied for at once, take longer.
Print ISSN before first issue
A print ISSN can be obtained in advance with a mock-up. Send a copy of the first issue afterwards to register it formally.
Online ISSN after launch
An online ISSN is assigned only after the first issue is released, so plan the application around your launch date.
What happens if the application is rejected
Plagiarised or misleading content
The Centre can decline applications that carry plagiarised articles, misleading information or content duplicating an existing publication.
Incomplete data
Missing editorial board details, address proof or too few articles are common reasons a file stalls or is returned.
Title or medium changes
If the title changes, or you move from print to online, a new ISSN must be applied for. Keeping the old number on the new title is not allowed.
Frequently asked questions
What is ISSN registration?
ISSN registration is the application for an eight-digit number that identifies your serial publication, such as a journal or magazine. In India the National Science Library at NIScPR, New Delhi, assigns it through an online portal. The number belongs to the title and stays with it unless the title changes. We prepare and file the application for you.
Is there a fee for an ISSN in India?
No. The Centre states that ISSNs are assigned free of charge, and there is no charge for using one afterwards. What you may pay for is the help preparing the specimen and application. We quote our fee before you commit, so you know the exact cost.
Can I get an ISSN for a book?
No. ISSN is only for serials: journals, magazines, newspapers and monographic series that come out in parts and continue indefinitely. A single book is identified by an ISBN. If your project is a book series that is published as a continuing serial, tell us and we will check which number fits.
Do I need separate ISSNs for print and online editions?
Yes. Each medium needs its own ISSN, so a journal published in print and online carries two numbers. The online edition is assigned only after its first issue is released, while the print number can be obtained in advance with a mock-up. We apply for both together where you need them.
How long does ISSN assignment take?
The Centre mentions a minimum of 30 working days. It can take longer if the application is incomplete or if you apply for several titles together. Submitting a complete specimen, address proof and editorial board details the first time is the best way to avoid delay. We check the file before it goes in.
What is the minimum content needed for an ISSN?
For a print serial, the Centre expects a complete issue or mock-up with cover, title page, editorial page and about five to six original articles. Online serials need a working URL and at least five articles, or ten for an annual title. An editorial board of at least five members is also required.
When do I need a new ISSN?
You need a new ISSN when the title changes or the medium changes, for example from print to online. Changes in publisher, place of publication or frequency do not need a new number, but you must tell the Centre about them. Planning a title change early, at least a month ahead, avoids gaps.
Do I also need RNI registration?
Possibly, for a newspaper or periodical. RNI title registration is a separate process from ISSN and serves a different purpose. An ISSN identifies the serial for libraries and indexing, while RNI deals with the title under press registration law. We can guide you on both if your publication is a periodical.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
The ISSN itself is assigned free of charge by the National Centre for ISSN, India.
Ready to begin?
Tell us your title and format, and we will get your ISSN application ready for the National Science Library.