New Delhi, March 14 (NationPress) The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has issued certificates to 71,963 films over the past five years, while significantly reducing the average certification time for feature films to 22 working days through the introduction of an online system, as reported to the Rajya Sabha by the Government.

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, L. Murugan, revealed these figures in reply to inquiries made by the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge.

Data from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting indicates that the CBFC, operating under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, is responsible for certifying films for public viewing in accordance with legal stipulations and certification criteria. Recommendations for cuts or alterations are made only if content infringes upon guidelines related to India's sovereignty, state security, international relations, public order, morality, defamation, contempt of court, or incitement to crime.

The annual statistics reveal a consistent rise in the number of films certified by the CBFC in recent years. In 2020-21, 8,299 films received certification, which increased to 12,719 in 2021-22 and 18,070 in 2022-23.

For the fiscal year 2023-24, the board certified 17,431 films, while in 2024-25, 15,444 films were certified.

Among these, numerous films were approved with suggested cuts or modifications. The number of such films escalated from 1,475 in 2020-21 to 3,033 in 2024-25.

During this five-year timeframe, only three films were denied certification—one in 2022-23 and two in 2024-25.

Category-specific data reveals that most films were certified under the 'U' and 'UA' categories. Of the total films certified, 41,817 received a 'U' certificate, 28,268 were certified under the 'UA' category, and 1,878 were granted an 'A' certificate, with no films certified under the 'S' category.

Additionally, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting stated on X, "According to Rule 37 of the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024, the maximum time limit for film certification is 48 working days. With the advent of the Online Certification System, the current average certification time is 22 working days for feature films and 3 working days for short films."

The Ministry also highlighted that under Rule 37, the stipulated time frame for film certification stands at 48 working days. However, with the implementation of the Online Certification System, the average processing duration has been reduced to 22 working days for feature films and 3 working days for short films.

Furthermore, the Cinematograph Act permits filmmakers to contest CBFC decisions in the High Courts.

Government records indicate a rise in such challenges over the years, with two cases filed in 2021, four in 2022, one in 2023, four in 2024, and ten cases reported to date in 2025.