I&B Ministry
I&B minister Prasad to inaugurate FRAMES 2003
MUMBAI: The clock for the start of the next edition of FICCI FRAMES 2003, the convention dedicated to the business of entertainment, is silently ticking away. Information & broadcasting Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will inaugurate the event on 14 March.
Prasad will felicitate singer Asha Bhosle and legendary cine star Dev Anand. FRAMES (Films, Radio Audio-visuals, Music,Events and Shows) 2003 takes place from 14-16 March at the Renaissance Convention Centre in the Mumbai suburb of Powai. In the previous years the event lasted just two days.
There will be over 50 speakers from abroad and 26 sessions. As readers are aware indiantelevision.com is once again the online media partner for the event.
The minister for Telecom, IT and disinvestment Arun Shourie will deliver the valedictory session on 16 March. On 14 March UK’s MP state secretary department of culture, media and sports Rt Hon. Tessa Jowell who is the guest of honour will address the inaugural session. Film producer Yash Chopra will deliver the opening address. Bollywood’s Rani Mukherjee will light the lamp.
As a prelude on 13 March there will be a seminar on technology for media and entertainment. This is being organised under the aegis of the e-Entertainment Alliance. Entrepreneurs and industry experts will speak on the convergence of technology and entertainment.
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.
