I&B Ministry
MIB advises channels to carry sign language interpretation of R-Day ceremony
MUMBAI: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has released an advisory to all the channels regarding the carriage of sign language interpretation of Republic Day ceremony. All the channels can carry the feed from DD Bharati/ DD News of the president of India's speech and Republic Day-parade with commentary free of cost.
Public broadcaster, Doordarshan, has indicated that DD Bharati will carry sign language interpretation of the President's Address to the nation on its channel from 7 pm to 7.30 pm on 25 January 2020. lt has further stated that on 26 January, DD News will carry the sign language interpretation of the commentary on its channel from 9 am to 11 am (or till the end).
The advisory from the ministry said, "The media has always been in the forefront of taking up important issues concerning national integration, progress of disadvantaged sections of the society, etc. Therefore, the feed of DD News/DD Bharati is being made available free of cost. All TV channels interested in carrying the live telecast of the speech of the president of India and Republic Day-parade with commentary, may carry the signals of DD Bharati/DD News with sign language interpretation and English/Hindi closed captions for the benefit of differently-abled people and make the event accessible to them."
The ministry had received requests to carry the telecast with sign language interpretation and English/Hindi closed captions to help people connect meaningfully with this important National day.
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.
