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The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting notified new film certification guidelines for the Central Board of Film Certification on 18 September 2026, the first revision of the 1991 framework in about 35 years.
Two things are new: a compulsory statutory warning on scenes showing the use, consumption or trafficking of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, and explicit age-based endorsements.
The prescribed warning reads: 'Illicit Narcotics Destroy Health and Guarantees Imprisonment. Say No To Drugs.'
The age markers align the guidelines with the UA 7+, UA 13+ and UA 16+ sub-categories created by the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024.
Everything else from 1991 is carried forward, including the bar on glorifying violence and crime, on degrading women, and on communal, obscurantist, anti-scientific or anti-national content.
| Certificate | What it means | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| U | Unrestricted public exhibition | Everyone |
| UA 7+ | Unrestricted, with parental guidance advised | Children below 7 need guidance |
| UA 13+ | Unrestricted, with parental guidance advised | Children below 13 need guidance |
| UA 16+ | Unrestricted, with parental guidance advised | Children below 16 need guidance |
| A | Restricted to adults | 18 and above |
| S | Restricted to a specialised class of persons | For example doctors or scientists |
The parent statute. It constitutes the Board, provides for certification of films for public exhibition, and under Section 5B(1) allows a film to be refused certification on grounds mirroring the reasonable restrictions of Article 19(2). Section 5B(2) empowers the Central Government to issue directions for the guidance of the certifying authority - the power under which these guidelines are issued.
Introduced age-based certification, added anti-piracy provisions with penalties for unauthorised recording and exhibition, and made certificates valid perpetually instead of for ten years.
Replaced the 1983 Rules and operationalised the UA 7+, UA 13+ and UA 16+ sub-categories that the new guidelines now refer to.
Governs the use of national symbols and emblems, which films may depict only in accordance with it - one of the eight specified requirements retained in the guidelines.
The Supreme Court upheld pre-censorship of films as a reasonable restriction on free speech under Article 19(2), holding that the visual medium's immediacy justifies treating it differently from print. It remains the constitutional foundation for a certifying board with the power to require cuts.
Statutory body under the Cinematograph Act, 1952 that certifies films for public exhibition. Its mandate is certification rather than censorship - it assigns films to categories indicating audience suitability, though it may require modifications before granting a certificate. Its board was reconstituted with 18 members on 16 September 2026, two days before these guidelines were notified
Administrative ministry for the CBFC; it notified the new certification guidelines on 18 September 2026 under the powers of the Cinematograph Act, 1952
The Film Certification Appellate Tribunal was abolished by the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021, so an applicant aggrieved by a CBFC decision now goes to the High Court instead of a specialised tribunal
The Cinematograph Act is enacted, creating the certifying authority for films.
K. A. Abbas v Union of India upholds pre-censorship of films under Article 19(2).
The detailed certification guidelines are issued - the framework in force until now.
An expert committee chaired by Shyam Benegal recommends a finer, age-graded certification system.
The Film Certification Appellate Tribunal is abolished under the Tribunals Reforms Act; appeals move to the High Courts.
The Cinematograph (Amendment) Act adds age-based certification, anti-piracy penalties and perpetual validity of certificates.
The Cinematograph (Certification) Rules create the UA 7+, UA 13+ and UA 16+ sub-categories.
New certification guidelines are notified, retaining the 1991 framework and adding the drug warning and age-marker provisions.
GS Paper 2 > Statutory bodies; GS Paper 2 > Fundamental Rights - reasonable restrictions on freedom of speech and expression
General Awareness > Acts, statutory bodies and current affairs
The CBFC's stated mandate: to assign a film to an audience-suitability category, though it may also require modifications before issuing the certificate.
The UA 7+, UA 13+ and UA 16+ sub-categories created by the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024, telling parents the age below which guidance is advised.
The provision of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 under which the Central Government issues guidelines for the guidance of the certifying authority.