To evaluate the efficiency of various cationic starches in improving retention drainage and strength properties of newsprints which are being made using extensive amount of domestic recycled wastepapers in a highly closed papermaking system diverse cationic starches have been prepared and tested. In the case of cationic starches with low charge density as the degree of substitution increas-es fines retention increased. Results also showed that the retention efficiency decreased sub-stantially for cationic starches with low DS when the conductivity of white water inceased. Tensile strength increased with the addition of cationic starches and then decreased. On the other hand internal bonding strength increased linearly with the addition of cationic starch. Oxidizing treatment of cationic starch was detrimental for retention and freeness improve-ment. Also crosslinking treatment of wet processed cationic starches made cationic starches less effective in retention and drainage.