I&B Ministry
Smriti Irani favours facilitating constructive communication in digital world
MUMBAI: Union information and broadcasting minister Smriti Irani has said that the role of the central government was to facilitate constructive communication in the digital world. She was speaking at an interactive session organised by the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi.
“I think the biggest challenge and opportunities in managing (digital content) is (to know and understand) the intent behind that creativity,” she said when asked how she managed, as a minister, the artificial distinction in content or creativity in a digital world where jurisdiction and borders had no place, PTI reported. If the intent of creativity or communication was to “create disharmony,” she said then there would be concerns regarding it.
If the intent was to empower, she said, then it was not the job of the government to intervene.
About a low budget films performing well, she said that a creative person would “never pursue a balance sheet which says only profit” but would pursue telling a great story. She also said that the best way to discourage bad content was to avoid watching such things. In a creative democracy, in a country like India, we could not ask people to stop making a certain type of content.
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.
