I&B Ministry
GST webpage created on PIB website
NEW DELHI: A special webpage on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the website of the Press Information Bureau was launched by the principal director-general A P Frank Noronha.
Goods and Services Tax (GST) will come into effect on 1 July. GST will completely transform the indirect taxation landscape in the country involving both, the central and state levies. In a departure from normal practice, GST will be administered together by the centre and states.
Earlier, the ministry of information and broadcasting had set a frequently asked questions and a basic understanding of GST on its website.
The webpage on GST is a one-stop information platform for all information on the new tax regime. It contains press releases issued till date on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in both Hindi and English languages. The webpage also contains various presentations, FAQs etc on GST.
Video clips of press conferences conducted with regard to GST by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley; Workshop conducted by Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia; Various video clips on GST including educational videos, TV Spots and Radio jingles as prepared by CBEC are also available on the webpage. Video links of programmes on GST by DD News can also be accessed.
YouTube, Twitter, Facebook etc updates on GST are integrated into the webpage for easy access on social media platforms. Various Infographics on GST have been compiled along with the Advertisements issued. Finance Minister’s quotes and bytes on GST after GST Council meetings have also been uploaded on the webpage.
I&B Ministry
Government proposes scrapping film certification fast-track scheme
Priority route may be dropped to end queue-jumping and restore fairness
NEW DELHI: The government is set to press pause on the fast lane for film certification. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has proposed scrapping the Priority Scheme under the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024, a move that could end the practice of paying extra to move a film ahead in the queue.
In a public notice issued on 16 February, the ministry invited stakeholder comments on the proposal, with the consultation window open until 17 March.
The Priority Scheme, introduced in 2024, allowed filmmakers to request expedited certification by paying three times the standard examination fee. Under the rules, priority applications could be slotted ahead of regular submissions, effectively reshuffling the order of scrutiny.
What began as a provision for exceptional urgency, the ministry says, has gradually become business as usual. The result has been longer waits for films in the regular queue and concerns about fairness in what is meant to be a statutory, rule-based process.
Officials have flagged the risk of a two-tier system, where producers with deeper pockets could buy speed while smaller or independent filmmakers were left waiting their turn. The proposed amendment aims to remove that imbalance by restoring a single, orderly queue for all applicants.
If approved, the changes would remove the rule that permits priority screening upon payment of higher fees, as well as the provision that allows regional officers to alter the order of examination based on such requests. In effect, every film would move through certification strictly according to its place in line, unless a separate exceptional mechanism is introduced later.
For big-budget producers, the shift may mean factoring in longer lead times before release. Marketing campaigns, festival slots and box office calendars that once relied on a quick certification turnaround may need more careful planning.
Independent filmmakers, on the other hand, could find the playing field a little more level. Without a pay-to-fast-forward option, the queue may become slower for some, but fairer for all.
The government says the move is meant to restore equity, improve predictability and strengthen the integrity of the certification process. Whether removing the fast-track option reduces bottlenecks or simply redistributes the delays will depend on how efficiently the regular pipeline is managed in the months ahead.
