Central Board of Film Certification

Central Board of Film Certification

Subject :Polity

Context: Censor board wants ‘changes’ in ‘Pathaan’ movie.

About Central Board of Film Certification:

• Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is a statutory body under Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, regulating the public exhibition of films under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act 1952.
• Films can be publicly exhibited in India only after they have been certified by the Central Board of Film Certification.
• The Board consists of non-official members and a Chairman (all of whom are appointed by Central Government) and functions with headquarters at Mumbai.
• It has nine Regional offices, one each at Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Cuttack and Guwahati. The Regional Offices are assisted in the examination of films by Advisory Panels.
• The members of the panels are nominated by Central Government by drawing people from different walks of life for a period of 2 years.
• 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.
• Refuse to certify — The board’s guidelines are:
  • Anti-social activities (such as violence) may not be glorified
  • Criminal acts may not be depicted
  • The following is prohibited:
    • Involvement of children in violent acts or abuse
    • Abuse or ridicule of the physically or mentally handicapped
    • Unnecessary depictions of cruelty to animals
  • Gratuitous violence, cruelty, or horror
  • No scenes encouraging alcohol consumption, drug addiction or smoking
  • No vulgarity, obscenity, depravity, double entendres or scenes degrading women, including sexual violence (as much as possible)
  • No denigration by race, religion or other social group
  • No promotion of sectarian, obscurantist, anti-scientific and anti-national attitudes
  • Relations with foreign countries should not be affected.
  • No national symbols or emblems, except in accordance with the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 (12 of 1950)