CBFC Issues New Film Certification Guidelines After Nearly 35 Years, Adds Drug Warning
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Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has issued new film certification guidelines for the first time in nearly 35 years, largely retaining the existing framework while introducing a specific warning for films depicting narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
The guidelines were issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on September 16. The previous CBFC guidelines were issued in December 1991.
The new framework retains provisions relating to violence, obscenity, sexual violence, communal content, national security, public order and other grounds for film certification.
New Warning For Drug-Related Scenes
The only technically new substantive provision in the September 16 guidelines relates to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
The 1991 guidelines stated that scenes that tended to encourage, justify or glamorise drug addiction should not be shown. The new guidelines specifically cover scenes depicting or involving the consumption, use or trafficking of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances.
Such scenes will be required to carry the warning:
“Illicit Narcotics Destroy Health and Guarantees Imprisonment. Say No to Drugs.”
UA 7+, UA 13+ And UA 16+ Markers Retained
The guidelines also provide for three UA age markers — UA 7+, UA 13+ and UA 16+ — under which parental guidance is advised for children below the respective age.
However, the age markers themselves are not new. They were introduced through the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024, and are also defined under the Cinematograph Act.
The government subsequently amended the 1991 guidelines in May 2025 to incorporate the three markers into the guidelines.
CBFC chairperson Shashi Shekhar Vempati highlighted the age markers in a post on X.
“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,” he wrote.
Several 1991 Provisions Continue
Much of the 1991 framework has been carried forward in the new guidelines. Several provisions have drawn renewed discussion on social media following their publication.
These include the provision that the modus operandi of criminals should not be depicted, along with restrictions on visuals or words promoting “communal, obscurantist, anti-scientific and anti-national” attitudes.
The guidelines also continue to state that films should not strain friendly relations with foreign States, endanger public order or the security of the State, question India's sovereignty and integrity, or contain defamatory or contemptuous material.
New CBFC Board Constituted After Nine Years
The guidelines come days after the government reconstituted the CBFC after nine years, appointing an 18-member board.
The previous full board reconstitution took place in 2017. The newly appointed board includes actors Suniel Shetty, Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi and Prosenjit Chatterjee, filmmaker Priyadarshan, musician Ricky Kej and television actor Rupali Ganguly, among others.
The reconstitution followed the appointment of Vempati as CBFC chairperson in May this year. He succeeded Prasoon Joshi, who stepped down after being appointed chairperson of Prasar Bharati.
