I&B Ministry
I&B ministry earmarks Rs 20 crore to strengthen TV channels’ monitoring
NEW DELHI: An amount of Rs 20 crore has been allocated in the current financial year 2014-15 for facilitating augmentation of the monitoring capacity of the Electronic Media Monitoring Centre (EMMC).
Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B Ministry) sources told Indiantelevision.com that a sum of Rs 90 crore had been earmarked in the 12th Plan 2012 to 2017 to enhance the monitoring capacity of the centre.
EMMC is a subordinate office under the Ministry of I&B and has been set up with state-of-the-art facility with effect from 9 June, 2008. EMMC monitors the content of the private satellite TV channels with regard to violation of Programme and Advertising Codes as enshrined in the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and Cable Television Network Rules, 1994.
The government hopes to increase the capacity of the EMMC to 1500 by 2017, which currently monitors around 300 television channels.
These channels are chosen randomly out of the 839 channels beaming into Indian homes. The aim is to first achieve the target of monitoring 600 channels within a few months.
The Programme Code provides that no programme should be carried which (a) offends good taste or decency (b) contains anything obscene, defamatory, deliberate, false and suggestive innuendos and half truths (c) criticizes, maligns or slanders any individual in person or certain groups, segments of social, public and moral life of the country (d) denigrates women through the depiction in any manner of the figure of a woman, her form or body or any part thereof in such a way as to have the effect of being indecent or derogatory to women, or is likely to deprave, corrupt or injure the public morality or morals (e) denigrates children (f) is not suitable for unrestricted public exhibition (g) is unsuitable for children. Action is taken against defaulting channels whenever any violation of the said codes is noticed or brought to the notice of the Ministry.
The Ministry also has an Inter Ministerial Committee (IMC) to look into the violations of the Programme and Advertisement Codes. IMC has representatives from the Ministry of home affairs, defence, external affairs, law, women and child development, health and family welfare, consumer affairs and a representative from the industry in Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI). IMC meets periodically and recommends action against violations.
The Ministry issues advisories from time to time on various issues, which are also relevant to reality shows. These are available at Ministry’s website www.mib.nic.in.
In addition, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has formulated the ‘Guidelines for Media Reporting on Children,’ which has been circulated by this Ministry among all TV channels/NBA/IBF on 23 November, 2012. The guidelines lay down provisions to be followed by broadcasters/producers in case child participants are taken in their shows.
Besides, as part of self-regulation by industry, Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), which is a representative body of non-news and current affairs TV channels, has set up Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) to examine the complaints about television programmes. BCCC has also issued some Advisories on various issues related to reality shows to their member channels, which are available at their website Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF).
I&B Ministry
CBFC speeds up film certification; average approval time cut to 22 days
Over 71,900 films cleared in five years as digital system shortens approval timelines
MUMBAI:Â The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has significantly reduced the time taken to certify films, with the average approval timeline now down to 22 working days for feature films and just three days for short films.
Operating under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the statutory body certifies films for public exhibition in line with the Cinematograph Act, 1952 and the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024. The rules prescribe a maximum certification period of 48 working days, though the adoption of the Online Certification System has sharply accelerated the process.
Over the past five years, from 2020-21 to 2024-25, the board certified a total of 71,963 films across formats. Of these, the majority fell under the U category with 41,817 titles, followed by UA with 28,268 films and A with 1,878 films. No films were certified under the S category during the period.
Film approvals have also steadily risen in recent years. The CBFC cleared 8,299 films in 2020-21, a figure that peaked at 18,070 in 2022-23 before settling at 15,444 films in 2024-25. During the same period, 11,064 films were certified with cuts or modifications.
Despite the high volume of certifications, outright refusals remain rare. Only three films were denied certification over the last five years, with one refusal recorded in 2022-23 and two in 2024-25.
The board may recommend cuts or modifications if a film violates statutory parameters relating to the sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality, defamation, contempt of court or incitement to an offence.
Filmmakers can challenge CBFC decisions in court. Data shows that such disputes remain limited but have seen some fluctuation. Between 2021 and 2025, a total of 21 certification decisions were challenged before High Courts, with the number rising to 10 cases in 2025.
Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha, minister of state for information and broadcasting L. Murugan shared the data. The question was raised by Mallikarjun Kharge.
With faster timelines and a largely digital workflow, the certification process appears to be moving at a far brisker pace, signalling a shift towards quicker clearances for India’s growing film output.
