I&B Ministry
I&B Ministry makes senior-level transfers of Indian Information Service Officers in media units
NEW DELHI: As part of several senior-level transfers in the media units of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B Ministry), Indian Information Service officer of the 1993 batch R C Joshi has been transferred as Director in the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity.
Joshi replaces Y K Baweja who is being moved to take his position as director (Media and Communications) in the Press Information Bureau (PIB).
Chitra Gupta, who is currently assistant director (Media and Communications) at PIB in Guwahati, will join as assistant director in DAVP in Kolkata. Additionally, she will also hold charge of Doordarshan Kendra in Kolkata.
S Mathias, who is presently additional director general (news) in the News Services Division of All India Radio, will also work on ‘loan basis’ for Doordarshan News till further orders.
M S Rajnikanth, who is currently deputy director (News) in Doordarshan News in Delhi is being moved to Bangalore as director (M & C) in PIB.
A K Srivastava, on repatriation from the deputation post as comptroller and auditor general will move as deputy director in the Indian Institute of Mass Communications as assistant professor.
Pragya Paliwal Gaur, director under order of posting after her services were surrendered by the Health Ministry, will move as Director (M&C) in PIB.
Vijay Kumar, who is presently director (M&C) in PIB Patna, is moving as director in the Publications Division in Delhi.
H Rehman and K K Pant, both deputy director (M&C) in PIB, Delhi, are being moved as deputy director DPR (Defence) and deputy director (News) in DD News in Delhi respectively.
Pravin Kavi, assistant director (News) in All India Radio in Lucknow is to take Rehman’s place in PIB.
N C Juyal, assistant director (News) in DD News, will be the assistant director (M&C) in PIB.
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.
