I&B Ministry
India examining new techs like mobile b’cast:I&B minister
NEW DELHI: Information and broadcasting minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi today said that India is examining opportunities being thrown up by newer technologies like mobile broadcasting.
Inaugurating the 12th International Conference & Exhibition on terrestrial and satellite broadcasting, organized by BES, the minister said, We are closely examining the opportunities offered by technology such as mobile
broadcasting.
According to Dasmunshi, broadcasting is revolutionizing the world as it heads towards being a global village. Information is power, and India stands today in the forefront of the world economic forum, he added.
I&B secretary SK Arora, who presided over the inaugural function, was of the opinion that since the opening up of the broadcast sector to private participation 15 years ago, India has come a long way and the change is phenomenal.
He added, We are in the midst of an era of convergence today, where the thin line between telecommunications and broadcasting is gradually fading.
A total of 65 companies, representing 300 broadcast equipment manufacturers and solution providers from 25 countries across the globe, are participating in Broadcast Engineering Society Expo 2006.
Over the last 12 years, BES Expo has been providing a platform to showcase the latest broadcast equipment and emerging technologies in India.
Highlighting the importance of the theme of the conference `Broadcast Trends: Reaching the Unreached, Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma said that content should reach the masses in an unbiased manner.
Making a strong case for availability of content to all the people, which has its antecedents pubcaster Doordarshan constantly fighting for telecast rights to popular and money-spinning games like cricket, Sarma said, There is an urgent need for a regulator to regulate the content.
Referring to the ever increasing preference for DTH services in the country by the masses, Sarma said the total number of subscribers of Doordarshans (subscription-free) DTH service has reached five million.
Delivering the welcome address, BES president NS Ganesan informed that this years expo will have a live demo of emerging technologies like TV on mobile based on digital multimedia broadcasting and digital video
broadcasting-handheld.
Chairman of Korean Broadcasting Commission Sung Dai Noh was the other guest of honour today, while the keynote address was delivered by James Andrew Butler Sr., director of Public Broadcasting Service of the US.
More than 40,000 visitors and delegates from various broadcast houses, educational institutions, and satellite channel operators are expected to attend this years event.
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.
