The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has recently announced the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules 2024, replacing the 1983 rules. The move is aimed at ensuring the integration of novel technologies into film production to push advancement in the film industry. This will ensure the relevance and effectiveness of Indian cinema.
Key aspects of the new rule
- The new rules promote an online certification process. It will enhance the ease of doing business for the industry while improving transparency and efficiency in the process.
- The digital process will significantly reduce the timelines required for film certification today by eliminating transaction-related delays.
- The certification will require the industry to integrate accessibility features into the movies.
- The new rules introduce sub-categories for the UA (Universal Adult) category to help parents determine the suitability of the content for their kids. It will be UA7+, UA13+, and UA16+.
- The rules advocate for greater representation of women in the CBFC board and advisory panels. It recommends one-third female members on the board; preferably it could be half of the total members.
- The new rule removes the certificate validity restriction, which is 10 years only. It offers perpetual validity for the certificates issued.
- Any editing in the film for TV broadcasts will have to seek recertification.
- These rules will encourage the film industry to adopt new technologies to enhance its competitiveness globally.
About Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)
- It is a statutory body functioning under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
- Its members are appointed by the Government of India, which comprises a chairman and non-official members (between 12 and 25).
- Headquartered in Mumbai, CBFC also runs nine regional offices across the country.
Indian Film Industry
- The Indian film industry produces more than 3,000 films every year in more than 40 languages, which makes it the largest film industry in the world when it comes to the number of films produced annually.
- Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil are the largest contributors to the industry.
- It contributes significantly to the Indian economy while generating huge employment opportunities.
- In 2023, the industry collected Rs 12,226 crore, which is an all-time high collection and an increase of 15% over the previous year’s collection.
