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Certain films for festivals to be exempt from certification
New Delhi; Phalguna 22, 1927
March 13, 2006
The Government has taken a policy decision to support film festivals by according exemption from certification to certain categories of films. However, this is subject to a formal application to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and fulfillment of some pre-requisites.
A broad-based Committee comprising academicians, officials and members of the film industry was constituted to look into the matter regarding exemption from the process of certification of films entered into the various film festivals. The Committee’s report was accepted by the Government and it was decided that all films entered into various film festivals, including foreign and Indian films, would be considered for exemption from the process of certification under Section 9 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 provided they are confined to delegates and the festival is non-commercial in nature. This Ministry’s Officer memorandum dated 17th January, 2006 is available on the Ministry’s website www.mib.nic.in.
The foreign films being entered into the various film festivals in this country would not have to wait for being certified before entry into the festivals.
This Information was given by Minister of Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri P. R. Dasmunsi in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
RS/NSK/AS
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India Today Group debuts AI anchor ‘Sutra’ at AI Impact Summit 2026
Sutra aims to simplify live policy debates using sovereign AI models
NEW DELHI: India Today Group has unveiled Sutra, an AI-driven news anchor designed to deliver real-time, contextual reporting, marking the group’s latest push to integrate artificial intelligence into mainstream journalism.
The AI anchor was introduced at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi and developed in collaboration with BharatGen, with the initiative showcased by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
India Today Group said Sutra is built to navigate complex policy discussions and fast-moving developments by synthesising information into concise, accessible insights, aimed at narrowing the gap between high-level debates and public understanding. The AI anchor was used to surface live takeaways from key sessions at the summit.
India Today Group chief AI officer Nilanjan Das, said the project was focused on clarity and accessibility without diluting editorial rigour. He added that working with BharatGen aligned the group’s AI ambitions with India’s broader push towards sovereign technology capabilities.
BharatGen CEO Rishi Bal, said the partnership reflected a shift from basic automation towards deeper contextual intelligence in media. He emphasised the importance of indigenous, multimodal AI models capable of understanding Indian languages, regional dialects and cultural nuance, particularly as AI-driven news formats gain traction.
The launch positions India Today Group among the first major Indian media houses to deploy an AI anchor backed by home-grown technology, underscoring a growing convergence between journalism, public policy and sovereign AI infrastructure.
