I&B Ministry
Around ninety violations of Programme and Advertising Codes since 2013: Rathore
NEW DELHI: Action was taken in 88 cases since 2013 to ensure compliance with or against violation of the Proigramme and Advertising Codes by private television channels.
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore told the Rajya Sabha today that this included thirteen cases of advisories issues to all news or general entertainment channels on issues like depiction of children, showing of road accident cases, urging channels to use sign language in Republic Day broadcasts, advisories about specific advertisements, showng films with displaying the Central Board of Film Certification certificate, telecast of anti-terrorist operations by security forces etc.
There were 32 cases of violation in 2013, 22 in 2014, 23 in 2015 and eleven so far this year, the Mihister said.
Amiong these, those channels which figure more than once in the list include Manoranjan TV, Colors, FTV, DY365, NTV, Comedy Central, and Raj News.
indiantelevision.com had earlier this week reported that there were a total of 49 complaints since 2013 – four in 2016 – for vulgarity in advertisements.
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.
