Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)

Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)
Why in News?
•    The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting appointed Shashi Shekhar Vempati as the Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification through a notification issued on May 6, 2026. 
•    The CBFC has also remained in discussions due to debates over film certification, OTT regulation, censorship concerns, and the abolition of the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT).
Organisational Structure 
•    The CBFC is a statutory body functioning under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. 
•    It certifies films for public exhibition in India under the: 
o    Cinematograph Act, 1952 
o    Cinematograph Certification Rules, 2024 
o    Guidelines issued under Section 5B of the Act. 
•    The Board headquarters is located in Mumbai. 
•    The CBFC consists of: 
o    A Chairperson 
o    Non-official members appointed by the Central Government.
•    It has 9 regional offices located at Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Cuttack, and Guwahati.
•    CBFC certifies films before exhibition to ensure compliance with legal & constitutional standards.
•    Over the last five years (2020–21 to 2024–25), the CBFC certified around 71,963 films.
•    OTT platforms are not regulated by the CBFC.
Core Functions of CBFC
•    The primary role of the CBFC is certification and not censorship. 
•    Films are examined before public exhibition to ensure compliance with legal and constitutional standards. 
•    The Board may recommend cuts or modifications only if content affects: 
o    Sovereignty and integrity of India 
o    Security of the State 
o    Friendly relations with foreign states 
o    Public order 
o    Decency or morality 
o    Defamation 
o    Contempt of court 
o    Incitement to offence.
Existing Certification Categories
•    U Certificate → Suitable for unrestricted public exhibition. 
•    A Certificate → Restricted to adults above 18 years. 
•    S Certificate → Restricted to specialised groups such as doctors or scientists. 
•    UA Certificate → Parental guidance required for children below a specified age. 
New UA Subcategories (2024 Rules)
•    UA 7+ 
•    UA 13+ 
•    UA 16+ 
•    These subcategories were introduced through the Cinematograph Certification Rules, 2024 to create age-sensitive classification standards.
Certification Procedure
•    Under Rule 37 of the Cinematograph Certification Rules, 2024, the prescribed certification timeline is 48 working days. 
•    Due to the Online Certification System: 
o    Average certification time for feature films is about 22 working days. 
o    Short films are certified in around 3 working days. 
•    The Chairperson can refer a film to a Revising Committee if dissatisfied with the Examining Committee’s recommendation.
Colonial Legacy
•    Film censorship in India began during British rule through the Cinematograph Act of 1918. 
•    Colonial authorities used censorship to protect imperial political interests while publicly emphasising morality and public order.