In a significant reshuffle of leadership within India’s public broadcasting and film regulatory bodies, Shashi Shekhar Vempati has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). He succeeds Prasoon Joshi, who has transitioned to the role of Chairman of Prasar Bharati.
2. Profile of the Appointees
| Feature | Shashi Shekhar Vempati | Prasoon Joshi |
| Current Role | Chairperson, CBFC | Chairman, Prasar Bharati |
| Background | Tech-focused; Former CEO of Prasar Bharati (2017–2022); AI advocate (AI4India). | Creative-focused; Screenwriter, lyricist, and advertising professional. |
| Key Contributions | Digital transformation of public broadcasting; Focus on Indic language AI models (BharatGen). | Implementation of e-Cinepramaan (digitized certification); Headed CBFC since 2017. |
3. Understanding the Institutions
A. Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)
- Nature: A statutory body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
- Mandate: Regulates the public exhibition of films under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act, 1952.
- Role: It is a certifying body, not a “censor” board in the strict legal sense, though it has the power to mandate cuts or deny certification if a film violates the guidelines under Article 19(2) of the Constitution (Reasonable Restrictions).
B. Prasar Bharati
- Nature: India’s largest public broadcaster; it is a statutory autonomous body established under the Prasar Bharati Act, 1990.
- Components: Comprises Doordarshan (DD) and All India Radio (AIR).
- Objective: To provide impartial broadcasting services to inform, educate, and entertain the public while safeguarding the citizen’s right to be informed.
4. Key Trends and Challenges in Film Certification
A. Digitization: e-Cinepramaan
Under the previous tenure, the CBFC transitioned to the e-Cinepramaan system. This digital portal was designed to:
- Increase transparency in the application process.
- Reduce human interface and delays.
- Provide a paperless audit trail for film certification.
B. Expansion of Scrutiny
The period between 2018 and 2022 saw an expansion in the scope of censorship, particularly concerning:
- Political Personalities: Increased scrutiny of films depicting living or historical political figures.
- Religious Themes: Heightened sensitivity toward themes that could potentially “hurt religious sentiments.”
- Access to Information: Recently, the CBFC restricted public access to “cut lists,” which were previously available for transparency regarding what was removed from films.
C. Legal Challenges
The Board has faced litigation regarding the withholding of certificates. Notable cases include challenges from the producers of Jana Nayagan and Emergency, where the judiciary was asked to intervene against perceived administrative delays or illegal withholding of approvals after examining committee clearances.
5. Constitutional & Legal Framework
- Article 19(1)(a): Guarantees Freedom of Speech and Expression, which includes cinematic expression.
- Article 19(2): Allows the State to impose “reasonable restrictions” in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency, or morality.
- Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023: This recent amendment introduced stricter penalties for piracy and established a new age-based classification system (UA 7+, UA 13+, UA 16+) to provide better guidance to parents.
UPSC Practice Questions
Preliminary Examination
Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC):
- It is a constitutional body established under Article 19 of the Constitution.
- It functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
- The Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023, introduced age-based sub-categories for the ‘UA’ certification.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3
Answer: (b) 3 only
Explanation: CBFC is a statutory body (not constitutional) under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (not MeitY).
Mains Examination
Q2. “The transition from ‘censorship’ to ‘certification’ in the Indian film industry is yet to be fully realized.” In light of recent leadership changes and the Cinematograph (Amendment) Act 2023, discuss the challenges in balancing creative freedom with social responsibility. (15 Marks, 250 Words)
Key points for answer:
- Introduction: Define the role of CBFC and the constitutional protection of cinema under Art 19(1)(a).
- Body:
- Discuss the shift toward age-based classification (2023 Act) as a positive step toward “certification.”
- Highlight the “censorship” concerns: administrative delays, political/religious scrutiny, and the lack of transparency in cut lists.
- Mention the role of judicial review in checking executive overreach (citing recent court challenges).
- Conclusion: Suggest the need for an independent appellate body and a shift toward a “viewer-discretion” model rather than a “state-mandated cut” model to align with global democratic standards.