I&B Ministry
Sahara’s Tamil news channel Bharat Today awaits MIB nod
MUMBAI: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB)published the status of application for new channels in regional languages on 5 February 2019. In the last two quarters of 2018, six companies applied for 10 regional channels in total.
Out of the 10 channels, four are from Eenadu Television, two are from LCGC Broadcasting and one each from Asianet News Network, Sidharth Broadcast, Sahara Television and Mavis Satcom.
All the four channels of Eenadu Broadcasting i.e. ETV Life HD, ETV Cinema HD, ETV Abhiruchi HD, ETV Plus HD, were granted permission from the MIB.
Out of the remaining six channels, five are news channels and a single non-news channel. All these six channels are under-consideration.
Sahara Television, which is undergoing financial turbulence, has also applied for a Telugu news channel, Bharat Today, on 26 December 2018.
Mavis Satcom has also put in an application for a Tamil news channel named Jaya TV on 2 January 2019, which is still under consideration.
Jesus Entertainment which opted for a regional channel named Yahova TV on 8 August 2016 in Tamil language is also under consideration.
In a recent update on 4 February, the MIB issued a notice informing all broadcasters that the online module for submitting applications for new TV channels is now operational on web portal www.broadcastseva.gov.in.
It also stated that henceforth, all such applications for new TV channels should be made through online mode only and no application should be sent through offline mode. BroadcastSeva is the effort of MIB to provide efficient and transparent regime for the growth and management of the Broadcast Sector. After submitting the online application the broadcasters are required to submit some documents through offline mode.
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.
