[Updated: March 2015]
Indian Readership Survey has once again come out with their yearly report and things are still looking good for physical newspapers and magazines in India. According to the 2015 report, Trak.in – Indian Business of Technology, Mobile & Startups
Hindi remains the most popular language for physical publications and Dainik Jagran tops the chart with a readership of over 16.6 million. Hindustan (14.7m) and Dainik Bhaskar (13.8m) round off the top 3 publications in India.
Among top local language dailies (excluding Hindi and English), Malayalam Manorama has highest readership for Malayalam, Daily Thanthi for Tamiland Lokmat for Marathi.
Times of India by all counts is not only the most read English daily newspaper in India, but also in the world. With a readership of close to 7.6 million, they are more than double of US Today, which has circulation of close to 3.5 million, also the most circulated newspaper in America.
Here is the complete list
Top 15 Newspapers in India [2015]
[Please do not confuse with readership numbers with number of readers. For number of readers, generally multiply the below numbers by 4]
| Sr. No | Newspaper Name | Readership numbers |
| 1 | Dainik Jagran | 16,631,000 |
| 2 | Hindustan (local) | 14,746,000 |
| 3 | Dainik Bhasker | 13,830,000 |
| 4 | Malayalam Manorama | 8,803,000 |
| 5 | Daily Thanti | 8,283,000 |
| 6 | Rajasthan Patrika | 7,905,000 |
| 7 | Amar Ujala | 7,808,000 |
| 8 | The Times of India | 7,590,000 |
| 9 | Matrubhumi | 6,020,000 |
| 10 | Lokmat | 5,887,000 |
| 11 | Ananda Bazar Patrika | 5,653,000 |
| 12 | Eenadu | 5,608,000 |
| 13 | Gujarat Samachar | 4,642,000 |
| 14 | Daily Sakal | 4,007,000 |
| 15 | Sandesh | 3,694,,000 |
You can check out full details of IRS 2015 here.
[divider][Updated: September 2014]
Did you know that Times of India is the only English daily newspaper among the top 10 dailies circulated in India. Yes, that is absolutely right. Accordin to latest readership survey numbers by Media Research Users Council (MRUC) for 2013, Dainik Jagran is the leading newspaper in India with a circulation of 15.5 million households. Hindustan comes in at second with a 14.2 million followed by Dainik Bhaskar at 12.8 million.
Compared to that Times of India, the only english daily in top 10, has circulation of 7 million. Among the top 10, 5 are in Hindi language, 2 in Malayalam, 1 each in Tamil, English and Marathi.
Check the latest standing along with their readership numbers.
| Publication | Circulation (in 000s) |
|
Dainik Jagran Hindi
|
15,527 |
| Hindustan Hindi | 14,246 |
| Dainik Bhaskar Hindi | 12,857 |
| Malayala Manorama Malayalam | 8,565 |
| Thanthi Tamil | 8,156 |
| Rajasthan Patrika Hindi | 7,665 |
| The Times Of India English | 7,254 |
| Amar Ujala Hindi | 7,071 |
| Mathrubhumi Malayalam | 6,136 |
| Lokmat Marathi | 5,601 |
Please keep in mind that the numbers given above are circulation numbers and no readership numbers. They are 2 different parameter. A single newspaper is read by multiple people, hence the readership is much higher than circulation.
For example, the number given below is of readership, which is obviously higher than circulation
Earlier, written in 2010
Did you know that Local language Newspapers are the most widely circulated and read newspapers in India. English dailies do not fare well when it comes to readership.
The highest ranked English daily was Times of India (and I always was under the impression that TOI was one of the most widely read news papers in the country)
The figures were released recently by Indian Readership Survey conducted by the Media Research Users Council (MRUC).
Here is the run-down on the numbers:
Top 15 Newspapers in India
| Sr. No | Newspaper Name | Readership numbers |
| 1 | Dainik Jagran | 54,254,000 |
| 2 | Dainik Bhasker | 33,432,000 |
| 3 | Hindustan (local) | 29,411,000 |
| 4 | Amar Ujala | 28,720,000 |
| 5 | Lokmat | 23,276,000 |
| 6 | Daily Thanti | 20,305,000 |
| 7 | Dinakaran | 16,741,000 |
| 8 | Ananda Bazar Patrika | 15,318,000 |
| 9 | Eenadu | 14,726,000 |
| 10 | Rajasthan Patrika | 14,205,000 |
| 11 | The Times of India | 13,447,000 |
| 12 | Hindustan Times | 6,254,000 |
| 13 | The Hindu | 5,140,000 |
| 14 | The Telegraph | 2,877,000 |
| 15 | Deccan Chronicle | 2,816,000 |
Here is an interesting take on these numbers: If you count all these numbers they come close to 230 million (in top 15) readership. Putting together all others (I count approx. 20 million), we land up with a very rough readership of 250 million. Now remember, readership is not same as circulation, which may be quite low.
So we have around 25% penetration of newspaper considering a population of 1 billion.
What say guys? Am I close?
What about the Hindi newspapers that are published in the states like Gujarat and West Bengal, also please let me know the newspaper for daman and Diu. If you have any list, explre here.
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Which city had the highest number of English and Hindi newspapers in 2012 and 2013
Times of India is by far the worst newspaper I ever read. There are no news, only ads and gossips. The epaper is pathetic with so many glitches. Most of the news are irrelevant, incomplete and insane. From the articles, it seems the reports and the editors are busy in spreading the wrong word among the people of the country, especially creating hatred for things about Hindu religion. Also, there are so many spelling mistakes and grammatically wrong statements.
Times is not an Indian paper like others, as it is controlled from outside the country. They are best at converting good things to bad ones about India and the people for no reason. Moreover, the way reporters and writers react when you critic their articles tell how low level their characters are. Such media should be curbed and kicked out of the country for good.
Good one bro i agree with most of ur points but unfortunately this fackass people are required to open the eyes of millions of people who r in deep sleep because by spreading hatred against us they r actually compelling us to unite n secondly english media is only relevant in posh areas of metro cities it has nothing to do with common people it has a viewership of just 0.4%
I have been reading TOI for ~15 years, have the same impression. It’s a bullshit pressititute news paper, literally. Any sane person can figure it out.
i have read many news paper but Danik Jagran news paper is the best ,
IN a country,where 130crore and above people lived .do u think the number of readers of the above news paper are enough ?
In a country where 50 million people sleep with an empty stomach and rest like to read news online. I think yes, the number of readers are enough?
Dainik jagran is the best newspaper of india.
Dainik Jagran is the most pathetic newspaper. The Hindu is Good.
Sakshi is worst.. Eenadu is the best.
Top 10 dailies in India (Readership figures)
1. Dainik Jagran 16,370,000
2. Dainik Bhaskar 14,416,000
3. Hindustan 12,246,000
4. Malayala Manorama 9,760,000
5. Amar Ujala 8,434,000
6. The Times Of India 7,615,000
7. Daily Thanthi 7,334,000
8. Lokmat 7,313,000
9. Rajasthan Patrika 6,837,000
10. Mathrubhumi 6,334,000
Top 10 dailies in India (Readership figures)
1. Dainik Jagran 16,370,000
2. Dainik Bhaskar 14,416,000
3. Hindustan 12,246,000
4. Malayala Manorama 9,760,000
5. Amar Ujala 8,434,000
6. The Times Of India 7,615,000
7. Daily Thanthi 7,334,000
8. Lokmat 7,313,000
9. Rajasthan Patrika 6,837,000
10. Mathrubhumi 6,334,000
Malayala Manorama (Malayalam: ????? ?????) is a daily newspaper, in Malayalam language, published in the state of Kerala, India. According to World Association of Newspapers, as of 2008, it holds a position as top 26th most circulating newspaper in the world (third largest circulating newspapers in India behind The Times of India and Dainik Jagran and most widely read daily and number one in Kerala. It was first published as a weekly on 14 March 1890, and currently has a readership of over 20 million (with a circulation base of over 1.9 million copies). The Malayalam word “manorama” roughly translates to “entertainer”
——–Wikipedia
stupid guyz!!!!!!!! stop making non sense
Malayala Manorama (Malayalam: ????? ?????) is a daily newspaper, in Malayalam language, published in the state of Kerala, India. According to World Association of Newspapers, as of 2008, it holds a position as top 26th most circulating newspaper in the world (third largest circulating newspapers in India behind The Times of India and Dainik Jagran and most widely read daily and number one in Kerala.[1] It was first published as a weekly on 14 March 1890, and currently has a readership of over 20 million (with a circulation base of over 1.9 million copies)[citation needed]. The Malayalam word “manorama” roughly translates to “entertainer”
——–Wikipedia
stupid guyz!!!!!!!! stop making non sense
I will comment on English newspapers in India. I think if you consider the quality of language then the Hindu and the Telegraph are way ahead. Especially the Hindu focuses on quality and the facts. The news in it are almost complete, without leaving any unanswered questions. Their edit page is also commendable with diverse articles.
If you consider the Times of India and the Hindustan Times, they are more urban-centric and modern. They focus on better presentation with interesting news, gossips, photos and graphics. Their audience is different from the so-called critical readers.
So each has their sphere in the country catering to a different audiences.
I am regular visitors of website Times of India. While reading offline news, I prefer local language newspaper.
The times of India is the worst newspaper in India today. Horrible language usage and the entire newspaper is covered with ads for which the TOI charges such a high premium. People usually buy it for the local city times, like Bangalore times or Mumbai times. It’s entirely a lifestyle fashion newspaper whose followers and readers have not learnt a thing from events but from the crap that TOI manages as gossip and various other crap!!
SAKSHI is the best news paper in andhrapradesh………….
Where is Malayala Manorama??? It is the largest circulating regional language news paper in India. Wikipedia holds it the Third largest circulating daily of India.
no manorama….Please check…
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(and I always was under the impression that TOI was one of the most widely read news papers in the country) So, if you were dumb enough to be under such impressions, why should we have to read this stuff?
It would’ve been far better had you put the date when the Readership Survey was published, and for what period. Also how the MRUC calculates circulation and readership. My suspicion is that these are largely guesstimates.
I’ve not done any totaling, but I suspect you are far from close. You do not indicate that you’ve taken into account double readership
The Hindu is best… It got the Best Newspaper in South,the language and layout and the High Level Expert’s Editorial view of the newspaper is very good.Even TOI itself praises The Hindu’s editorial part. I love to have morning tea with the Hindu.. THE HINDU ROCKSS….
I think 25% penetration of newspaper is very low. We should try to increase that number.
QUITE CLOSE I SHOULD SAY…………………TOI HAS QUITE CRAPPY NEWS COVERAGE!
its nice that anandabazar patrika is in 8th position in the country among almost 400 daily's..
Under the notion that the hindu was unbiased,just in its views,secular and patriotic , i became its subsriber. But the articles it ran daily made me think that i was wrong and hasty jumping onto the hindu bandwagon.it is not as impartial as it claims to be. While this uncouth champion of secularism poured vitriol over the pope for his comments against islam, it was silent over the smelly mulla death sentence to a neo-convert from afganistan. While it upholds the palestinian right to kill jews and christians ,the israeli self resistance is outrageous. Its op -ed page is inundated with anti-hindu,anti-christian, anti-jewish,anti-national , anti- american and pro-muslim and pro-left. It islamic mercenary (read journalists) are shameless in their glorification of muslim terrorists as freedom fighters. It is vocal in its support for kashmir terrorists and often spends its offal worthlessly for asia andrabi and the likes of sajjad lone. What virtue can be expected of a newspaper headed by a former commie student org leader? This newspaper should have long been banned by gov for writing against patriotic sentiments and boycotted by hindus,christians ,jews and all those who reject islamic terrorism. The apt title for this islamic and chineese mouthpiece should have been “indias anti- national news paper since 1878.
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Can't we have a survey and rating based on "quality" of newspaper n not readership! Coz though TOI is highest selling English daily, the language is pathetic with so many spelling/grammatical mistakes, use of words that make no sense in context! I have sent many copies of TOI to their respective editors marked with all such mistakes with a marker and all the papers were filled with red spots, but got no reply from them! I think The Hindu is way better w.r.t. quality and so is The Telegraph!
I still like Rajarsthan Patrika…..
I think INDIAN EXPRESS should also be in the list.
Even Punjab Kesari is in 1 to 5 number list…
wow great Dainik Jagran is still no. 1.
SAKSHI IS THE BEST NEWS PAPER IN INDIA
sakshi is a yellow jornalism news paper , its a top most worst paper of andra pradesh , started by a jagan mohan reddy , now he is in jail for his deeds
Please reply. Malayala Manorama is no 4 th in INDIA.
NO Manorama is no 4th.
what is the position of navbharat times.
top 15 newspapers of india.
nd which 1 u would like to join…..?????
great list……These are so helpfulness for us…..So thanks to share it with us….
People Think The Hindu is a Good News paper.But it is a LEFT oriented newspaper.
While reading that paper one should be alert & critcal.Otherwise one cannot form an impartial opinion about an issue.They always critisize India & US, & always Flatter China.Somedays one will feel like he/she is reading a Chinese National Daily.
All newspapers (and magazines) have agendas. They are owned by business houses and utilised to promote their interests. When reading ANY paper (or magazine), here or abroad, one should be critical, highly so. Few impartial opinions can be expected
I need some help. Hopefully, someone that will read this comment will pitch in the info I need. I need to hire some journalists for a newspaper I’m planning to start.
It’s a small paper, and financially I’m not in very good position.
Probably, what I need is a retired journalist, or some students… because, the work I need would be just part time.
So, could anybody be so kind and direct me toward a publication (forum, pool of students of journalism, etc.) where I could reach a great number of students?
Your help would be greatly appreciated.
L.G.
which region r u looking at
I am a student of journalism and am really interested in working with you . pls reply me soon