I&B Ministry
Piracy gets a reality check as India sets up anti-piracy task force
MUMBAI: India’s pirates may soon find their screens going blank. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has announced the formation of a dedicated task force to crack down on online piracy, a menace that drains Rs 224 billion annually from the country’s entertainment industry, according to the 2024 Rob Report by EY and IAMAI.
The scale of the problem is staggering with 51 per cent of Indian media consumers admitting to watching pirated content, both theatres and OTT platforms are losing revenue hand over fist. The Cinematograph Amendment Act 2023 had already introduced stricter penalties and empowered authorities to clamp down on illegal recordings and transmissions. Now, with a specialised task force, the fight against piracy is set to gain sharper teeth.
Welcoming the move, JioStar CEO and IAMAI Digital Entertainment Committee (DEC) chair Kiran Mani called it a “timely and necessary step” that would directly channel industry expertise into decisive solutions. “By bringing together the collective experience of the ecosystem, we can help shape solutions that protect India’s creative economy and drive long-term growth,” he said.
Echoing the urgency, Inshorts co-founder and CEO DEC Co-chair Deepit Purkayastha noted that piracy remains “one of the biggest hurdles” for the sector. “This task force is a chance to work hand in hand with the government to find solutions that really work. Together, we can set the stage for a stronger and more trusted entertainment industry,” he added.
With stricter laws in place, industry leaders aligned, and the new task force gearing up, India’s media and entertainment sector has a rare chance to curb piracy, safeguard creativity, and expand its global influence. For once, it looks like the pirates may not have the last laugh.
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: 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.
