I&B Ministry
Election Commission rejects demand to cancel Modi’s ‘Mann ki Baat’ before Bihar polls
NEW DELHI: The Election Commission has rejected a demand by the Congress and its alliance partners seeking a ban on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast on All India Radio slated for 20 September.
The Congress said it could be used to directly influence the outcome of the Bihar Assembly elections. The Commission said it would take action if parts of the programme were found to be in violation of the model code of conduct now in place in Bihar.
A senior official of the Commission said, “No blanket ban can be enforced on the broadcast or Cabinet meetings. But the EC can take cognisance if the Cabinet decision or the content of programme is in violation of the model code of conduct.”
A delegation comprising leaders from the Congress, the Janata Dal (U) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal had met the chief Election Commissioner on the issue.
An earlier complaint against the monthly broadcast during the Harayana assembly polls had been rejected after the Commission went through the recording and transcript of the episode.
Meanwhile, Modi has urged people to record voice messages for Mann Ki Baat.
Earlier, people had been encouraged to send in their messages on the mygov platform. People can record their messages in either Hindi or English for Mann Ki Baat on the toll-free number 1800 3000 7800.
“Interesting effort by @mygovindia, which enables you to join Mann Ki Baat programme. I heard some of the voice messages and they were unique. Keep the messages coming. Some will be a part of the programme this Sunday,” Modi tweeted.
While the broadcast is generally on the last Sunday of the month at 11 am, Modi is doing it earlier this month as he has to leave for the United Nations General Assembly session in New York.
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.
