The Central Board of Film Certification has updated its film certification guidelines for the first time in nearly 35 years, introducing mandatory drug consumption warnings and reiterating existing content restrictions.
Reader brief
Through the Reader lens: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has updated the guidelines for film certification in India, replacing the framework that had been in place since 1991. The updated rules now mandate specific health warnings for scenes involving narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Additionally, the guidelines reinforce existing age-based parental guidance markers and maintain strict standards regarding content related to violence, national security, and public order. This update follows the recent reconstitution of the 18-member Central Board of Film Certification board.
What to watch next
- Industry compliance with the new narcotics warning label requirements in promotional materials
- Public and industry reaction to ongoing restrictions on content depicting criminal methods or communal themes
- Impact of the newly reconstituted board on the certification process
What was said2
Attributed, verbatim. Every quote is checked against the article it came from. One that does not match is not shown.
Shashi Shekhar Vempati
2 quotes“Film makers need to highlight these markers in promotional material so that these are clearly understood by the audiences before exposing children to a film.”
In the article
…amended the 1991 guidelines in May 2025 to incorporate the three markers into the guidelines themselves. CBFC chairperson Shashi Shekhar Vempati took to X to specifically highlight the age markers. He wrote, “ Film makers need to highlight these markers in promotional material so that these are clearly understood by the audiences before exposing children to a film. ” Speaking to HT, he explained why the markers have been specifically highlighted in the new guidelines despite already being part of the certification rules. “Reinforcing their importance and creating awareness both…
“Reinforcing their importance and creating awareness both within the industry and broader society”
In the article
…by the audiences before exposing children to a film.” Speaking to HT, he explained why the markers have been specifically highlighted in the new guidelines despite already being part of the certification rules. “ Reinforcing their importance and creating awareness both within the industry and broader society ,” he said. Much of the rest of the 1991 framework has been carried forward. Several of these provisions have drawn renewed discussion and criticism on social media following the publication of the new guidelines. These…
Sources1
- [1]Hindustan TimesneutralCentral Board of Film Certification issues new guidelines after nearly 35 years