I&B Ministry
MIB urges MSOs not to be misled by fraud agents for registration
NEW DELHI: The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has once again asked applicant multi-system operators (MSOs) not to be misled by individuals making false claims of helping to get the MSO licences in lieu of illegal gratification.
The Ministry, which has earlier alerted MSOs and TV broadcasters several times in this regard, had last posted a similar notice on its website on 5 August last year.
However, it has come to the notice of the I&B Ministry that ‘certain individuals are approaching MSO applicants with false claims of providing MSO registrations and demanding illegal gratifications/bribe to get the work done.’
The Ministry reiterated that it had adopted a very transparent way of dealing with issuance of MSO registrations. In order to maintain transparency in processing of MSO registration applications, the Ministry organizes monthly Open House Meeting on the 20th of every month in the chamber of Deputy Secretary (Digitization).
A notice in this regard had also been put on the website on 9 April this year.
This mechanism enables the applicants to know the status of their applications, provide/submit documents as required by the MIB as also to represent their grievances to the Ministry.
For any doubt or enquiry about status of their applications, the applicant MSOs may participate in the Open House Meeting by sending an e-mail at sectionofficerdas@email.com with a copy at das.miK@gmail.com by the 10th of every month.
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.
