The ministry of information & broadcasting (MIB) notified the new Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024.
It aims to improve the process of film certification and enhance transparency, efficiency and ease of doing business for the film industry.
Key provisions
- The new rules were notified in accordance with the Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023, replacing the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 1983.
- The government had last year amended the Cinematograph Act, 1952, after almost 40 years to comprehensively address the issues relating to film certification.
- The new rules will provide greater representation of women in the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) Board & CBFC Advisory Panels, where it is stipulated that one-third of the members in the Board shall be women or preferably half shall be women.
- The upgraded CBFC rules introduce new age-based categories of certification by further subdividing the existing UA category into three age-based categories – seven years (UA 7+), 13 years (UA 13+), and 16 years (UA 16+), instead of 12 years.
- The rules also eliminate the 10-year limit, allowing for perpetual validity of CBFC certificates.
