CBFC - GOVERNANCE
News: The
cuts of Central Board of Film Certification run deep
What's in the news?
● From
international relations and religion to politics and the police, the Central
Board of Film Certification is demanding cuts
beyond sexual content, violence, and abusive language.
● The
CBFC routinely orders changes to movies: a toning down or removal of sexual
content, violence, and abusive
language, especially if the filmmaker would like a more favourable age rating
(a U or U/A, rather than an A or S).
CBFC:
● The
CBFC also known as “Censor Board” is a statutory
body.
● It
grants certificates to regulate the public exhibition of films in India under
the provisions of the Cinematograph Act
1952.
Ministry: Union Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting.
Headquarters:
Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Objective:
● The
mandate of CBFC is to promote recreation, education, good and healthy
entertainment to the public according to the provisions of the Cinematograph
Act, 1952, and Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 1983.
● Films
can be publicly exhibited in India only
after they are certified by the CBFC.
Composition:
● The
CBFC board is headed by a central
government appointed chairperson and 12-45 non-official members.
● The
members are eminent persons from social science, education, law, arts or films
background.
Film Certification:
Films
are certified under 4 categories.
● “U”
(unrestricted public exhibition)
● “A”
(restricted to adult audiences)
● “U/A”
(unrestricted public exhibition subject to parental guidance for children below
the age of twelve) and
● “S”
(restricted to specialized audiences such as doctors or scientists).
● In
addition to these certifications, the board may also refuse to certify.
Appeal Mechanism:
● Previously,
the appeals against the decision of CBFC was filed at the Film Certification
Appellate Tribunal.
● But,
the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal
(FCAT) was abolished in 2021.
● At
present, filmmakers can appeal to the
High Court and Supreme Court against the CBFC decision.