Parliament Question: Certification of Indian Films by CBFC

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2496 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.03.2026 CERTIFICATION OF INDIAN FILMS BY CBFC 2496: SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE:

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

(a) the number of films submitted for certification to the Central Board of Film Certification

(CBFC) during the last five years, and the number of films in which the Board directed cuts, modifications, or refused certification;

(b) the category-wise breakup (U, U/A, A, S) of films certified during this period;

(c) the average time taken for certification, including the number of cases where the prescribed timelines were exceeded; and

(d) the number of appeals filed before High Courts against CBFC certification decisions during the said period, along with the number of appeals allowed, modified, or dismissed, year-wise? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (DR. L. MURUGAN)

(a) to (d): The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), a statutory body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, certifies films for public exhibition under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024, and the guidelines issued thereunder. Cuts or modifications are recommended only if the content violates statutory parameters concerning 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.

The year-wise details of films (both digital and video) certified by CBFC and the films refused certification during the last 5 years are given below:

Year 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 Total films certified 8299 12719 18070 17431 15444 Films certified with 1475 1911 2205 2440 3033 cuts/modifications Refused certification 0 0 1 0 2Over the last five years (2020–21 to 2024–25), CBFC has certified 71,963 films. The

category wise break up of films is as follows:

Certification Category Total Films Certified (2020–21 to 2024–25) U 41,817 UA* 28,268 A 1,878 S 0 *Age based sub-categories under the UA category were introduced vide the Cinematograph

(Certification) Rules. 2024.

As per Rule 37 of the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024, the prescribed time limit for certification of films is 48 working days. With the implementation of the Online Certification System, the present average time taken for certification is 22 working days for feature films and 3 working days for short films.

The Cinematograph Act provides for an appeal against the order of the Board before a High Court. Such cases are dealt with in accordance with the outcome of the judicial proceedings.

The year-wise details of the decisions challenged before the High Courts are given below:

Year 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Challenged before High Court 2 4 1 4 10 *****