I&B Ministry
FII investments: I&B buys news channels’ line
NEW DELHI: A ministerial note being given final touches at the information and broadcasting ministry may bring smiles on the faces of listed media companies running news channels as a contentious issue of investment by foreign financial institutions (FIIs) would get addressed. A relaxation in investment norms is in the offing, provided the new Cabinet okays it.
But the same may not be true for the private FM radio companies as the information and broadcasting ministry feels that the players concerned have “complicated” the matters further by moving courts on the issue of annual licence fee, which became payable on 30 April.
The I&B ministry’s note on FII investment in TV news channels would be put up before the new minister on a priority basis so that various concerns raised by the likes of Zee Telefilms and Television Eighteen Ltd and stumbling investment blocks related to the likes of NDTV Ltd and TV Today Network Ltd get addressed for the smooth functioning of the companies concerned even while conforming to the existing laws of the land.
According to ministry sources, the issue of FII investment and whether it has to be treated as foreign investment or not is something that needs to be addressed quickly by the new government as the restructuring process of various companies running news channels depends on that.
At present, the I&B ministry treats FII investment as foreign investment in TV news companies, which has been making life difficult for various news channels to adhere to the existing foreign investment cap of 26 per cent andstill continue uplinking from India.
The contention of the likes of Television Eighteen has been, ministry sources told indiantelevision.com today, that it is difficult to keep track of every FII investment (read buying of shares) in publicly traded media companies, though the Companies Act, which would otherwise over-ride any other guidelines, is more liberal in this regard as long as sectoral caps are adhered to.
“We have sought information from the finance ministry on the FII investment angle and the issue is likely to be put up before the new minister as soon as possible,” a source in the I&B ministry said, pointing out that if the Companies Act does not treat FII investment as foreign investment in listed companies, then an amendment would be made in the uplinking laws of the country after Cabinet approval is obtained.
But the sources, however, ruled out any immediate relaxation in the foreign investment cap of 26 per cent in TV news ventures, saying, “these things, if at all they happen, would take a longer period of time for the government to decide on.”
CAS LIKELY TO BE DUMPED
Another opinion that is firming up in the I&B ministry amongst bureaucrats is that the issue of conditional access system (CAS) should not be pursued by the new government.
“Our advise to the new I&B minister would be to steer clear of issues like CAS that are simply nothing but a political minefield,” a senior government official said, adding that the effort would also be to “distance the I&B ministry as much as possible from CAS.”
The feeling in the outgoing government towards the end was also that law should not have mandated CAS and the technology should have been allowed to be evolved naturally via market forces.
Considering the stiff opposition to CAS in the two main states where CAS was being sought to be implemented — Union Territory of Delhi and West Bengal — government officials feel that the new government would prefer to steerclear of the CAS issue letting the regulator take an initial stand on the issue.
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.
