I&B Ministry
Govt says TV industry to be Rs 50,140 crore in 2014
NEW DELHI: With the general elections coming closer, the government is ensuring that the public becomes aware of the good work it has done in the 10 years of its regime. One of the departments flaunting its feat is the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) that issued a statement today which claimed a paradigm shift in information dissemination and policy measures which has led to a vibrant information order in the last ten years.
The Ministry says that with the growth of television channels from 130 in 2004 to 788 in 2014, India has become the third largest TV market with close to 154 million TV households, next to China and the United States. At the same time, the size of the TV industry has witnessed an exponential growth as well. The value of the TV industry is valued at Rs 50,140 crore in 2014 from Rs 18,300 crore in 2006.
MIB says that the initiatives undertaken by it enabled the discourse of ‘India Story’ to be disseminated across different platforms. It also aimed at providing quality information to the masses, thereby ensuring that the inclusive growth perspective is spread.
The Ministry also claims to have pursued policies in order to utilise the benefits of technology and ensure that a framework is built enabling growth and change for the broadcasting landscape in the country. It says that the digitisation process has brought transparency in the system with 30 million STBs being installed in the first two phases.
Some of the highlights of the decade have been the implementation of various guidelines including policy guidelines for uplinking and downlinking of TV channels (amended in 2011), policy guidelines for HITS broadcasting services (2009), policy guidelines for IPTV (2008), Revision of FDI Policy in five segments of broadcasting sector (2012), policy guidelines for TV rating agencies in India (2014) and policy guidelines on direct to home services (2001).
In the film sector, the panel under the Chairmanship of Punjab and Haryana High Court retired Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal examined issues of certification under the Cinematograph Act 1952. The Committee reviewed major areas of concern pertaining to Advisory Panels; Guidelines for certification and issues such as portrayal of women, obscenity and communal disharmony; Classification of Films; Treatment of Piracy; Jurisdiction of the Appellate Tribunal; Review of the provisions of the Cinematograph Act, 1952.The committee has recently submitted its report which is being reviewed by the Ministry.
One of the key highlights of the film sector has been the National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC) showcasing India’s rich film heritage over the past 100 years. The Museum is situated in the 6,000 square-foot Gulshan Mahal – a heritage building. The museum is a ready-reckoner of the history of Indian cinema showcasing technological aspects of production and screening of films, as well as its social aspects during the past 100 years. Through its interactive galleries, it traces the evolution of celluloid from the Lumiere Brothers, Raja Harishchandra onwards, and showcases Indian cinema in three stages – silent era, golden era and the modern era.
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.
