I&B Ministry
MSOs meet RS Prasad to discuss CAS today
NEW DELHI: Multi-system operators (MSOs) are meeting the information and broadcasting (I&B) minister Ravi Shankar Prasad around 3.30 pm today on conditional access system (CAS).
One of the demands of the MSOs, according to Zee Telefilms vice chairman and head of Siti Cable, Jawahar Goel, is to extend the duty exemption granted on imports of set-top boxes (STBs).
The second extension of duty exemption on STB imports from the government’s side, with an aim to give a fillip to rollout of CAS, expires on 30 September.
It is not yet known officially what would be the stand of the
government on the STBs’ imports considering the implementation of CAS in all the cities, except Chennai, has got bogged down in political and bureaucratic tangles.
Bowing to political pressures from certain quarters of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, the federal government had to denotify Delhi from the CAS rollout road map last month
Following this, Shiv Sena in Mumbai and the West Bengal government too asked for a postponement of CAS in Kolkata and Mumbai. Though, officially CAS is supposed to be in force both in Kolkata and Mumbai as they haven’t been denotified.
It would be known later today, if the government would extend the tax sops on STB imports. Meanwhile, the government is yet to file a reply on a clutch of cases on CAS pending in the Delhi high court. The next hearing is tomorrow.
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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.
