I&B Ministry
Prasad produces performance report card at the Rajya Sabha
NEW DELHI: The government has taken several initiatives to bring about changes in the entertainment sector in the interest of the overall development of this sector.
Access to institutional and bank financing has been facilitated for the entertainment industry, including films, foreign direct investment policy for the film sector has been liberalised and international visibility has been afforded to Indian films by participation in global markets.
This was stated by I&B minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha (Upper House of the Indian parliament).
Apart from these, in order to suggest a policy framework for the entertainment industry, both at the centre and the States, a committee for development of the entertainment sector has been set up.
The committee had given its first set of recommendations which, including a recommendation to fix a ceiling of 60 per cent on entertainment tax, were circulated among the States and many State Governments have lowered their entertainment tax rates. An anti piracy training programme was also organised for police officers based on the recommendations of the committee, which is expected to be the precursor of many such training programmes.
In its recent meetings, the committee has made recommendations, mainly relating to a further reduction in entertainment tax rates, appointment of a nodal officer in each State assisting in anti-piracy matters and facilitating a single point clearance by State Governments for foreign film crews shooting in India. The second set of recommendations of the committee have also been persuasively circulated to state governments.
In order to bring about a receptive investment regime in the entertainment sector, within India, a committee has recently been set up to suggest a strategy to facilitate the flow of venture capital into the sector, the minister said.
The government had also constituted a committee to make recommendations for radio broadcasting. The executive summary of this committee’s report may be seen on the ministry’s website at www.mib.nic.in.
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.
