The Government of India has revised the guidelines that guide the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) while certifying films for public exhibition.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued the revised guidelines on 16 September 2026, and the document was published by the Ministry on 18 September 2026.
The revised guidelines supersede the earlier notification issued on 6 December 1991. The updated framework continues several existing principles while introducing specific provisions, including a statutory warning for scenes involving narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances and the use of age-specific U/A markers. 0
Why Has the Government Revised the Film Certification Guidelines?
Film certification in India is governed by the Cinematograph Act, 1952, along with the applicable certification rules and guidelines. The CBFC examines films for public exhibition according to the principles issued by the Central Government.
The new guidelines have replaced the previous 1991 guidelines while retaining the basic objectives of film certification. The Government states that certification should remain responsive to social change, while artistic expression and creative freedom should not be unduly restricted. 1
What Are the Main Film Certification Guidelines?
1. Violence and Criminal Activities
The revised guidelines state that anti-social activities such as violence should not be glorified or justified. They also direct the Board to ensure that the modus operandi of criminals, or visuals and words likely to incite the commission of an offence, are not depicted.
The guidelines also address pointless or avoidable scenes involving violence, cruelty and horror, particularly where such scenes may have the effect of desensitising or dehumanising people. 2
2. Protection of Children
The guidelines address scenes involving children in violence, including children shown as victims, perpetrators or forced witnesses to violence. They also cover the depiction of child abuse.
The objective is to prevent such material from being presented needlessly during the certification process. 3
3. Treatment of Persons with Disabilities and Animals
The revised guidelines state that scenes showing the abuse or ridicule of physically or mentally disabled persons should not be presented needlessly.
They also address unnecessary depictions of cruelty to or abuse of animals. These principles form part of the broader certification standards applied by the CBFC. 4
4. Alcohol, Tobacco and Smoking
The guidelines state that scenes which have the effect of justifying or glorifying drinking should not be shown.
Similarly, scenes that encourage, justify or glamorise consumption of tobacco or smoking are covered by the certification guidelines. 5
New Statutory Warning for Narcotic Drugs
One of the specific additions in the revised guidelines concerns scenes depicting or involving the consumption, use or trafficking of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances.
Such scenes are required to be accompanied by the following statutory warning:
“Illicit Narcotics Destroy Health and Guarantees Imprisonment. Say No to Drugs.”
This provision is specifically included in paragraph 2(h) of the revised guidelines. The guidelines separately state that scenes encouraging, justifying or glamorising drug addiction should not be shown. 6
Rules Relating to Women and Sexual Violence
The revised guidelines state that scenes degrading or denigrating women should not be presented.
They also address scenes involving sexual violence against women, including attempted rape, rape and molestation. Where such an incident is relevant to the theme of the film, the guidelines state that it should be reduced to the minimum and that details should not be shown.
The guidelines contain a similar provision concerning scenes involving sexual acts or matters described in the guidelines as sexual perversions. Where such material is relevant to the theme, it should be kept to the minimum and details should not be shown. 7
Religious, Communal and Anti-Scientific Content
The certification guidelines also address content relating to racial, religious and other groups.
They state that visuals or words contemptuous of such groups should not be presented. The guidelines also cover visuals or words that promote communal, obscurantist, anti-scientific or anti-national attitudes. 8
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National Security, Public Order and Other Legal Considerations
The revised guidelines require the Board to consider issues relating to the sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States and public order.
They also cover defamation and contempt of court. The guidelines explain that scenes which create scorn, disgrace or disregard of court rules, or undermine the dignity of the court, can come within the meaning of contempt of court for the purpose of certification.
The use of national symbols and emblems is also subject to the applicable law, including the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950. 9
Films Will Be Considered as a Whole
An important principle in the revised framework is that a film should be judged in its entirety from the point of view of its overall impact.
The Board is also directed to examine a film in the light of the period depicted in the film and the contemporary standards of the country and the people to which the film relates, subject to the conditions specified in the guidelines. 10
New Age-Based U/A Certification Markers
The revised guidelines provide for three age-based U/A markers:
- U/A 7+ – Content suitable for children aged seven and above, with parental guidance for children below seven.
- U/A 13+ – Content suitable for children aged thirteen and above, with parental guidance for children below thirteen.
- U/A 16+ – Content suitable for viewers aged sixteen and above, with parental guidance for children below sixteen.
The guidelines state that these markers may be used when the Board considers parental caution necessary based on the nature, content and theme of the film. 11
These age-based U/A markers should not be confused with the September 2026 revision alone. The Cinematograph Act amendments and Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024 introduced the updated certification framework, and the CBFC began implementing the new age-based U/A markers from October 2024. 12
U, U/A, A and S Certification
The CBFC currently lists the major certification categories as U, U/A, A and S. The U/A category includes the age-based markers U/A 7+, U/A 13+ and U/A 16+. 13
The revised guidelines also state that films considered unsuitable for exhibition to non-adults can be certified for adult audiences only. Films intended for a particular profession or specialised class of viewers can be certified for specialised audiences. 14
Film Titles Will Also Be Examined
The revised guidelines specifically state that film titles should be scrutinised carefully.
Titles should not be provocative, vulgar or offensive, and should not violate the applicable certification guidelines. 15
How Does the CBFC Certification Process Work?
The CBFC certification process is carried out through the e-Cinepramaan system. According to the CBFC, producers can submit the application online, pay the applicable fee and track the application status through the portal.
If the CBFC raises observations requiring corrective action, the applicant can take the necessary corrective steps and resubmit the updated material. The CBFC also publishes the prescribed time limits for different stages of the certification process. 16
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What Has Changed From the Earlier Guidelines?
The new guidelines replace the Central Government’s film-certification guidelines dated 6 December 1991. At the same time, many of the core certification principles continue in the revised framework.
For example, the earlier guidelines already contained provisions concerning the glorification of violence, criminal methods, unnecessary depictions involving children, abuse or ridicule of persons with disabilities, cruelty to animals, glorification of drinking, drug addiction, smoking, treatment of women and several other areas. 17
The 2026 revision therefore should be understood as an updated film-certification framework rather than a completely new set of restrictions covering every aspect of film content.
What Filmmakers and Viewers Should Know
For filmmakers, the revised guidelines provide the framework that the CBFC will use while examining films for public exhibition. The most notable specific provision in the revised guidelines is the statutory warning associated with scenes involving narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances.
For viewers, the U/A age markers provide information about the age group for which parental guidance is indicated. The applicable certification remains part of the film’s official public-exhibition certification.
The revised guidelines also continue to recognise the importance of artistic expression and creative freedom while setting out the principles that guide film certification. 18
Conclusion
India has revised its film certification guidelines after replacing the previous framework issued in 1991. The new guidelines continue many established certification principles while updating the framework for current certification practices.
The key points include restrictions on glorification of violence and criminal activity, safeguards concerning children, persons with disabilities and animals, provisions relating to alcohol, tobacco and drugs, safeguards concerning women and sexual violence, and requirements concerning public order, national security and other legal considerations.
A notable new provision requires a statutory anti-drug warning when films depict or involve the consumption, use or trafficking of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances. The revised guidelines also formally provide for the U/A 7+, U/A 13+ and U/A 16+ age markers within the certification framework. 19
These changes are part of India’s continuing film-certification framework under the Cinematograph Act and the rules and guidelines issued under it. Filmmakers and viewers can refer to the official Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and CBFC documents for the complete provisions.
Official Sources
- Ministry of Information and Broadcasting – Revised Guidelines for Certification of Films for Public Exhibition. 20
- Central Board of Film Certification – Film Certification Guidelines. 21
- Ministry of Information and Broadcasting – Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024. 22-23
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