Magazines are periodical publications and are produced on a regular schedule. They feature articles and illustrations focused on specific subjects and generally target a particular audience. Examples include science magazines, fashion magazines and business magazines.
In India, to publish a magazine, it is essential to register with the Press Registrar General of India (formerly known as Registrar of Newspapers for India). This is a mandatory requirement under the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act 2023. In this blog post, we shall provide you with the list of top 10 magazines in India.

The list of top 10 magazines in India is provided below. If you are an avid reader of magazines, you must be aware of at least some of these magazines:
Year of Launch: 1975

India Today magazine was launched in 1975. It is one of the top magazines in India. It is a weekly Indian news magazine published by the Living Media India Limited in English language. The magazine has a readership of nearly 8 million readers, making it the most widely circulated magazine in the country. It provides insightful analysis as well as credible journalism, so you don’t have to worry about the authenticity of their facts.
It features key national and international events, culture, politics, ranging from historic moments like Indira Gandhi’s assassination and Benazir Bhutto’s evolution to latest challenges and issues like health crises and space exploration. India Today magazine has been quite successful in creating awareness among the citizens of the country. It is no wonder that this magazine is the first choice for many magazine readers in India.
Year of Launch: 2009

Forbes is one of the top 10 magazines in the world. Forbes India, the Indian edition of Forbes magazine, is one of the top 10 magazines in India. This magazine is published fortnightly and also has a strong digital presence, with content including podcasts and various online articles.
The Forbes India magazine covers topics like business, stock markets, startups, technology, and the lives of wealthy individuals in India. Network18, a Reliance Industries-owned media conglomerate, is responsible for managing the Forbes India magazine, in partnership with Forbes Media LLC. The magazine is published fortnightly, i.e., once every two weeks.
Year of Launch: 1995

Outlook Magazine is one of the most popular magazines in India. This magazine is owned by the Rajan Raheja Group, and was first issued in October 1995, with Vinod Mehta as the founder editor in chief till 2012. Outlook Publishing (India) Pvt. Ltd is the publisher of the magazine.
Outlook magazine features topics like politics, sports, cinema and stories of broad interests. It is a weekly magazine, meaning it gets published every week. It is one of the most circulated magazines in the country. Millions of magazine readers love to purchase the Outlook magazine and go through all its pages to know what’s all happening in different parts of the country.
Year of Launch: 1982

The Week is an Indian news magazine established in 1982 and published by The Malayala Manorama Co. Pvt. Ltd. Headquartered in Kochi, the magazine is printed from multiple cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kottayam. It covers a wide range of topics like politics, entertainment, society, current trends, technology and lifestyle.
The founding chief editor, K. M. Mathew (Padma Bhushan, 1998), served until 25 December 1988. Known affectionately as Mathukuttychayan, he had held key positions like Chairman of the Press Trust of India, President of the Indian Newspaper Society, and Chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Upon his passing on 1 August 2010, The Times of India described The Week as his “brainchild.”
Year of Launch: 1981

Business world magazine is one of the top 10 business magazines in India. Anurag Batra, a media entrepreneur, is Businessworld magazine owner. Originally, the magazine was published by ABP Group. The Group’s prominent publications include The Telegraph, Anandabazar Patrika, Sananda, Anandamela and others. On 19 September 2013, the ABP Group sold Businessworld to Anurag Batra, the owner of the media group exchange4media, and Vikram Jhunjhunwala, who manages the investment banking and asset management firm Shrine Capital, for an undisclosed amount.
Businessworld magazine was founded by the ABP Group in 1981. In 2021, the publication was in the news due to unpaid salaries to its editorial staff. Anurag Batra serves as the chairman and editor-in-chief of Businessworld and Exchange4media. He is also a member of the Board of Governors at the Management Development Institute (MDI). Businessworld magazine is published fortnightly, meaning it is released every two weeks. It is regarded as one of India's largest and most respected business magazines.
Year of Launch: 2010

Fortune magazine is one of the top 10 magazines in United States. The Indian edition of this magazine Fortune India was launched in 2010, and is regarded as one of the top magazines in India. It is one of the most respected business magazines of all time. Fortune India is a monthly business magazine that explores a wide range of topics like Indian startups, emerging workplaces of the future and the evolving media and entertainment industries.
Its recent editions have highlighted themes like rise of the Indian creator economy, strategic insights from the 40 Under 40 achievers and the performance of multinational companies that are operating in India. The magazine also delves into subjects like real estate trends, the link between technology and geopolitics, developments in the automotive industry and even certain key debates surrounding investment and economic policy. Alongside its regular monthly publications, Fortune India periodically issues special editions that focus on specific sectors/themes.
Year of Launch: 2007

Vogue India is one of the best magazines in India. It is regarded as one of the top 10 fashion magazines in India. Vogue India is a monthly magazine, and is the 17th international edition of Vogue and the first edition in South Asia. The publisher of Vogue India is Condé Nast India Pvt. Ltd., which is a 100% owned subsidiary of Condé Nast International.
The magazine covers a variety of topics like lifestyle, high fashion and beauty. It places a special focus on Indian culture, people and diverse creative scene. The stories featured in the magazine are on subjects beyond simply fashion like women empowerment, entrepreneurship, movies and art. The magazine aims to capture various perspectives from various regions across the country.
Year of Launch: 2008

GQ India is one of the top 10 magazines for men in India. It is the Indian edition of GQ magazine, which is an American monthly men’s magazine. It is the 15th worldwide edition of GQ. Condé Nast India Pvt. Ltd., a fully owned subsidiary of Condé Nast worldwide, is the publisher of the Indian edition of GQ magazine.
GQ India offers coverage on culture, entertainment and wellness in addition to themes pertaining to men's lifestyle with a particular emphasis on style and fashion. Particularly during cultural celebrations like Diwali, recent stories highlight menswear trends, celebrity interviews and entertainment and self-care tips. Additionally, the magazine includes India specific content like stories about local tourism spots, rankings for food and wealth statistics.
Year of Launch: 1959

Femina is one of the top 10 magazines for women in India. It is published by Worldwide Media, which is a subsidiary of the well-known The Times Group. As the country’s oldest English magazine for women, it has been in circulation for nearly sixty years. Over time, it has expanded its content to include themes such as relationships, careers, fashion, beauty and stories of inspiring women who have made notable achievements in their lives.
The Femina magazine is a bimonthly publication that also reaches regional audiences through editions like Femina Hindi, Femina Bangla and Femina Tamil. Additionally, it brings out special verticals like Femina Salon & Spa, which is a monthly magazine for beauty professionals, along with Femina Brides, Femina Parenting and Femina Cookbook. Some of its flagship events include the Femina Beauty Awards, Femina Women Awards, Femina Stylista, and Femina Showcase.
Year of Launch: 2006

Outlook Business Magazine is one of the top 10 magazines in India. It is one of the top 10 business magazines in India since its launch in the year 2006. Outlook Business is a business & investment magazine from Outlook Group. The magazine offers in-depth coverage on India Inc., sustainability, emerging businesses, technology and the political economy, making it one of the top finance magazines in India for the avid readers. The magazine comes with a strong foundation in analysis that is research-driven.
It unpacks the challenges and issues that shape the economic and business environment. The stories covered by Outlook Business are intended to survive for more than ten years and give enduring value by providing information that enables people and organizations to make wise decisions that will preserve and increase their wealth. Politicians and policymakers also find Outlook Business to be an essential tool when it comes to understanding the sentiment of the country and assessing the effects of their actions.
The top 10 magazines in India are India Today, Forbes India, Outlook, The Week, Business World, Fortune India, Vogue India, GQ India, Femina and Outlook Business. Want to start a magazine or newspaper in India? Connect with Registrationwala for assistance in the PRGI registration/RNI registration process!
Q1. What is the most circulated magazine in India?
A. The most circulated magazine in India is India Today magazine.
Q2. Which company publishes India Today magazine?
A. Living Media India Limited publishes the India Today magazine.
Q3. When was Forbes India magazine first published in India?
A. Forbes India magazine was first published in India in May 2009, with its first issue dated 5 June 2009.
Q4. Which company manages Forbes India magazine?
A. Network18 manages Forbes India magazine.
Q5. Who is the publisher of GQ India magazine?
A. Condé Nast India Pvt. Ltd publishes the GQ India magazine - the Indian edition of American GQ magazine.
Q6. When was the first Fortune India magazine published?
A. The first Fortune India magazine was published in September 2010.
Disclaimer: This article is based on the author’s personal opinion and may or may not represent views of the general public, institutions or organizations.