Bill proposes graded age ratings for films, but censorship to stay

Subject : Science and Tech

Section: Awareness in IT and computers

Context:

The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023 introduces graded age ratings for movies for the first time.

Details:

All ‘curated content publishers’ such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or Hotstar provide graded age ratings to warn parents of content unsuitable for minors since the Information Technology Rules, 2021 were passed.
The graded age ratings will allow viewers — particularly parents — to take more factors into account when they watch a film, or when they let their children go unaccompanied to the cinema.
However, the changes fall short of what an expert committee chaired by filmmaker Shyam Benegal recommended to the Union government in 2017, as the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) retains its censorship powers, rather than becoming a mere classification authority.

The new graded age ratings:

U/A, the classification used by the CBFC to indicate films that can only be watched by minors if they have an adult accompanying them, will be split into three levels, once the Bill becomes law.
The new age ratings are U/A 7+, U/A 13+, and U/A 16+.
This means, for instance, that minors who are 14 years old can watch films rated U/A 7+ and U/A 13+ unaccompanied.
In theory, this could mean that films that deal with mature content could be released without being given an ‘A’ or adult only certificate.

For details of the Bill: https://optimizeias.com/rajya-sabha-passes-cinematograph-amendment-bill-2023-aimed-at-curbing-film-piracy/