I&B Ministry
Swaraj stresses role of media in combating terrorism
NEW DELHI: The media has an important role and responsibility in fighting and isolating forces of terror. The battle is to be fought by the journalists, not with guns and tanks, but with their pens and words, information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj said here today.
Inaugurating a Foundation Course in Journalism for a group of 15 Afghan journalists at the Indian Institute of Mass Communications, here today, Swaraj said that the forces of terrorism are still active in our region, and pose a threat to the peace and progress of humanity.
The minister said that the journalists must contribute in the reconstruction and re-building process. The newspapers in Afghanistan, should not only inform the citizens of the country, of the initiatives and programmes of the Afghanistan Government, they should also comment on what needs to be done further, Swaraj said.
Secretary, information and broadcasting, Pawan Chopra, said the electronic media, especially television, plays a great role in initiating thought and action through information. He said India has undergone a revolution in electronic media and the friends from Afghanistan must make the best use of their exposure in this field.
The course is designed to develop trained manpower to meet challenges of the times and more so when the image and the events in the country need to be projected in the right perspective and development and reconstruction efforts of the government need media and information support. Fifteen journalists and government media officers are attending the two-month course.
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.
