I&B Ministry
Film & TV Producers Guild submits draft for proposed Entertainment Export Promotion Council
MUMBAI: Standing by its commitment to strive for the welfare of the entertainment industry at large, the Film & Television Producers Guild of India Ltd. recently submitted the draft for the proposed Entertainment Export Promotion Council to the Information & Broadcast Ministry.
The Guild had received a notification from the Information & Broadcasting Ministry with a request to consider the finer details of forming a Special Export Promotion Council for the entertainment industry as suggested by the ICE (Information, Communication and Entertainment) Committee recently constituted by the Prime Minister’s Office. The Guild had been advised to give its proposals in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Commerce, states an official release.
Accordingly, the Guild has set up a Sub-Group comprising representatives of eminent members having specialization in exports. At their first meeting, members of the Sub-Group had extensive deliberations on the subject, transpiring in the finalization of the draft.
This draft was formally presented to the Information & Broadcasting Ministry recently by the Guild president Amit Khanna at a meeting in Delhi. The Ministry urged for some time to scrutinize the draft but readily assured the Guild president that the proposed Entertainment Export Promotion Council would be formed under its auspices.
This development establishes the strong foothold occupied by the Guild in the eyes of the establishment.
Established in 1954 by the stalwarts of the Indian film industry, The Film & TV Producers Guild is today the most progressive body in show business. From the studio barons like Yash Chopra and Subhash Ghai to the new diversified media companies like UTV, Nimbus, Zee, Sahara and Adlabs. From the leading TV production houses like Star TV, Sony, TV Today, NDTV, TV Eighteen, BAG Films to the young turks like Ashutosh Gowariker, Karan Johar, Farhan Akhtar, Rohan Sippy are all symbols of the Indian filmed content. Offering genuine stakeholders in the business an opportunity to work for the betterment of the entertainment industry, the Guild is now the cornerstone of Indian entertainment.
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.
