I&B Ministry
Action taken in 75 complaints of violations by TV channels in last three years, Govt not considering independent mechanism
NEW DELHI: The Government has reiterated that there is no proposal under consideration of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry for an independent broadcasting media authority/separate mechanism in the country for complaints relating to media
I and B Minister Arun Jaitley told Parliament that the adequate provisions in the form of various Acts / Rules / Regulations/ Guidelines already exist with regard to print and electronic Media.
He also referred to the Inter-Ministerial Committee for TV channels, self-regulatory bodies Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) headed by retired Judge Mukul Mudgal for general entertainment channels, the News Broadcasting Standards Authority for news television channels, the Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), and the Press Council of India for print media.
The BCCC took action in a total of 5036 cases between 2013 and 2015, while the NBSA took action in 1464 complaints between 2012-13 and 2014-15.
Thus BCCC had 2298 complaints in 2015, 1791 in 2014 and 947 in 2014. The NBSA -had 110 complaints in 2014-15, 1143 in 2013-14, and 216 in 2012-13
Action was taken in 75 complaints relating to violation of Programme or Advertising Codes for Television channels, while the Press council of India heard 521 complaints between 2012-13 and 2015-16.
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.
