Parliament Question: Reform of Central Board of Film Certification

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1692 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.02.2026 REFORM OF CENTRAL BOARD OF FILM CERTIFICATION 1692: SMT. RANJEET RANJAN:

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

(a) whether Government is aware that under the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules 2024, the Board of Film Certification must meet once every quarter, where the last board meeting was held six years ago in August, 2019;

(b) whether Government is aware that the last annual report on the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) website dates back to 2016-17 and according to the rules, the board is required to publish and submit an annual report to the Ministry;

and

(c) whether Government is aware that the CBFC was last reconstituted in 2017 for a period of three years until further order, which ended in 2020? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (DR. L. MURUGAN)

(a) to (c): The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) conducts its meetings with Board Members online. Since 2017, the certification workflow has been made predominantly digital through the e-Cinepramaan online certification platform, through which submission of applications, processing, and approvals is done online. The meetings of Examining and Revising Committees are held as required based on the volume of films submitted, ensuring timely certification.

The CBFC submits its annual report to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting every year. This information is incorporated into the Ministry’s consolidated Annual Report, which is published regularly and available on the Ministry’s website.The CBFC is constituted under Section 3 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, is headed by a Chairperson, and continues to function in accordance with Rule 3 of the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024.

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