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I&B Ministry

Shyam Benegal to head committee examining film censorship

Published

10 years ago

on

NEW DELHI: A Committee headed by veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal has been constituted by the Government to suggest a paradigm that ensures that artistic creativity and freedom do not get stifled or curtailed even as films are certified.
 
Noting that “in most countries of the world there is a mechanism / process of certifying feature films and documentaries,” an official release also said that the attempt should also be that “the people tasked with the work of certification understand these nuances.”
 
The recommendations of this Committee are expected to provide a holistic framework and enable those tasked with the work of certification of films to discharge their responsibilities keeping in view this framework. 
 
The note said Indian films have a glorious history and a whole lot of Indian films have enriched the cultural milieu of the country besides making astonishing advances in technical aspects of film making. 
 
During their deliberations, the Committee would be expected to take note of the best practices in various parts of the world, especially where the film industry is given sufficient and adequate space for creative and aesthetic expression. 
 
The Committee would recommend broad guidelines / procedures under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act 1952 / Rules for the benefit of the chairperson and other members of the Screening Committee. The staffing pattern of Central Board of Film Certification would also be looked into in an effort to recommend a framework, which would provide efficient and transparent user friendly services. 
 
The other Members of the Committee include filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, creative director Piyush Pandey, media veteran Bhawana Somayya, National Film Development Corporation managing director Nina Lath Gupta, and Joint Secretary (Films) Sanjay Murthy as Member Convenor. The Committee has been requested to submit its recommendations within two months.  
 

Welcoming the appointment of the Committee, Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chairman Pahlaj Nihalani told Indiantelevision.com that he hoped the report will clear the air as far as certifying films was concerned.
 
In a telephonic interview from Mumbai, Nihalani said that it was necessary to protect the freedom of speech and the right of a filmmaker, but this could not be done at the cost of permitting all kinds of language or innuendos.
 
He, therefore, suggested that there was need for extending the certification scope by introducing two categories beyond those at present. The categories at present are Universal (U), Universal with Adult Guidance (U/A), and Adult (A). 
 
He felt that while not permitting pornography, there should be two categories beyond the A category: A+ and A++. 
 
Meanwhile, Benegal said in an interview to a newspaper in Mumbai that his committee does not have anything to do with Nihalani. He added that many of the guidelines need to be looked at from time to time since society was an entity where things keep changing, sensibilities change and viewers change. 
 
This is not the first time that such a committee has been set up. After earlier attempts, the last Committee that examined similar issues was headed by Mukul Mudgal. However, no action has been taken on that report submitted in 2013.

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I&B Ministry

Prasar Bharati sets EPG standards for DD Free Dish platform

New specs define 7-day guide, LCN mapping, and device compatibility.

Published

6 days ago

on

April 24, 2026

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MUMBAI: Your TV guide just got a backstage pass structured, scheduled, and far more in sync. Prasar Bharati has released detailed technical specifications for Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) services on DD Free Dish, laying down a standardised framework for how channels and programme information are organised and delivered. At the core of the update is a defined EPG data structure, covering genre-based categorisation, scheduling formats, and Logical Channel Numbering (LCN). The aim is simple: make navigation less guesswork and more guided experience across the platform’s over 40 million households.

The specifications also introduce a seven-day programme guide window for each channel, alongside clear rules for channel grouping and LCN mapping effectively deciding not just what you watch, but how easily you find it.

On the technical front, the document outlines requirements for Program Specific Information (PSI) and Service Information (SI), including descriptor usage across tables such as PAT, BAT and NIT. It further details service lists and network linkage parameters, giving OEMs and developers a clearer blueprint for integration.

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Importantly, the framework is designed to work seamlessly with television sets equipped with in-built satellite tuners, enabling users to access DD Free Dish directly without additional hardware, an incremental but meaningful step towards simplifying access.

The platform will continue to operate on GSAT-15 transponders, using MPEG-4 compression and DVB-S2 transmission standards, ensuring continuity even as the interface evolves.

While largely technical, the move signals a broader push towards standardisation and user-friendly discovery in India’s free-to-air ecosystem because sometimes, the real upgrade isn’t what’s on screen, but how easily you get there.

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