I&B Ministry
CBFC gets Rs 7.12 crore during 2014-15, even as Govt stresses on its autonomy
NEW DELHI: Even as the government says that the independence of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is guaranteed in the Cinematograph Act, 1952 and it will not interfere in its working, the CBFC is totally dependent on the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry as far as its budget goes.
The I&B Ministry provides funds to the Board under Non-Plan and Plan allocations.
During 2014-15, the CBFC’S Non-Plan estimated budget allocation was Rs 7.01 crore, which was revised to Rs 7.12 crore. The estimated Plan allocation was Rs 2 crore, which was revised to Rs 70 lakh.
With the recent differences between CBFC members and its chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani, the members are looking at the Ministry for help as they and the chairperson are appointed Section 3 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952.
Interestingly, the Section also says in clause (3) that the other terms and conditions of service of the members of the Board shall be such as may be prescribed.
The other sections are clear that the Board will consist of a chairman and not less than 12 and not more than 25 other members appointed by the Central Government.
Furthermore, the Section says, “Chairman of the Board shall receive such salary and allowances as may be determined by the Central Government, and the other members shall receive such allowances or fees for attending the meetings of the Board as may be prescribed.”
I&B Ministry
Prasar Bharati sets EPG standards for DD Free Dish platform
New specs define 7-day guide, LCN mapping, and device compatibility.
MUMBAI: Your TV guide just got a backstage pass structured, scheduled, and far more in sync. Prasar Bharati has released detailed technical specifications for Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) services on DD Free Dish, laying down a standardised framework for how channels and programme information are organised and delivered. At the core of the update is a defined EPG data structure, covering genre-based categorisation, scheduling formats, and Logical Channel Numbering (LCN). The aim is simple: make navigation less guesswork and more guided experience across the platform’s over 40 million households.
The specifications also introduce a seven-day programme guide window for each channel, alongside clear rules for channel grouping and LCN mapping effectively deciding not just what you watch, but how easily you find it.
On the technical front, the document outlines requirements for Program Specific Information (PSI) and Service Information (SI), including descriptor usage across tables such as PAT, BAT and NIT. It further details service lists and network linkage parameters, giving OEMs and developers a clearer blueprint for integration.
Importantly, the framework is designed to work seamlessly with television sets equipped with in-built satellite tuners, enabling users to access DD Free Dish directly without additional hardware, an incremental but meaningful step towards simplifying access.
The platform will continue to operate on GSAT-15 transponders, using MPEG-4 compression and DVB-S2 transmission standards, ensuring continuity even as the interface evolves.
While largely technical, the move signals a broader push towards standardisation and user-friendly discovery in India’s free-to-air ecosystem because sometimes, the real upgrade isn’t what’s on screen, but how easily you get there.
