I&B Ministry
MSO clearances finally cross 550 with less than six weeks left for completing Phase III of DAS
New Delhi: The number of multi system operators has raced to 553 by 24 November from around 470 early this month, as the government races to prepare to meet the deadline of completing the third phase of digital addressable system.
Of these, 230 have got ten-year licences with three provisional licencees getting permanent licences, and a total of 323 (against 246 early this month) getting provisional licences. One temporary licencee was also given permanent licence till 2024 after its area of operation was changed.
Information and Broadcasting Ministry sources said it had still not received any formal communication of the Home Ministry’s decision to do away with security clearances for MSOs, while some had been given provisional licences pending certain formalities relating to shareholders and so on.
According to the list put on the I and B Ministry’s website today, Kal Cables of Chennai and Digi Cable Network Pvt Ltd of Mumbai remain on the cancellation list. Scod 18 Networking Pvt Ltd of Mumbai has also been refused security clearance while SR Cable TV Pvt Ltd of Bangalore has shut down its business.
Two MSOs which had earlier been granted permanent licences were permitted to change their areas of operation.
The new entrants in the permanent licence list include Waltair Entertainment Pvt. Ltd for Phase II in Vishakapatnam; Den Manoranjan Satellite Pvt. Ltd of Pune for Maharashtra; and Seemanchal Digital Network of Purnea for Bihar.
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.
