CBFC certification: ‘Say no to drugs’ warning made part of film certification center’s guidelines | Today’s news
Films depicting the consumption, use or trafficking of narcotic or psychotropic substances will have to carry a drug warning.
Clarifying the CBFC’s certification guidelines, the Center on Sunday said the latest change, announced on September 16, 2026, allows inclusion of an anti-drug message in films depicting the use of narcotic or psychotropic substances.
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The Film Certification Guidelines lay down the principles to be followed by the CBFC in appraising films for public screening under the Cinematography Act.
Under the revised guidelines, such scenes will have to carry a warning: “Illegal narcotics destroy health and warrant imprisonment. Say no to drugs.”
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced the revised guidelines on September 16 under the Cinematography Act.
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The move marks a change from the earlier certification guidelines, which required the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to ensure that scenes tending to “encourage, justify or enhance drug addiction” are not shown, but did not prescribe such a specific on-screen warning.
Last month, the ministry asked OTT platforms to prominently display the same warning during scenes depicting the consumption or use of intoxicants.
A similar warning was issued for private satellite TV channels.
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Two major changes
The guidelines were last amended in 2024, when the government incorporated three categories of age-based parental guidance – U/A 7 , U/A 13 and U/A 16 – into them.
The categories, introduced following amendments to the Cinematography Act in 2023, recommend parental care for children under seven, 13 and 16.
Another change is the latest one, which provides for the inclusion of an anti-drug message in specific scenes in films.
Additional points in the revised guidelines
Among other things, the rules require the council to ensure that anti-social activities such as violence are not glorified or condoned, criminal methods that could incite crime are not shown, and scenes encouraging, justifying or glamorizing drug addiction are not shown.
The instructions also deal with depictions of violence, cruelty, sexual content and matters that could affect public order, national security or India’s relations with foreign countries.
It was also stated that “—Scenes tending to create contempt, disgrace or disregard of the rules or to undermine the dignity of the court will come under the term “contempt of court”; and “national symbols and emblems are not displayed except in accordance with the provisions of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Misuse) Act, (12 of 195).
The CBFC certification guidelines were issued in 1991 and film certification continues to follow these guidelines for the past 35 years.
The center on Wednesday reconstituted the CBFC, bringing in actors Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi, Suniel Shetty, Pallavi Joshi and Prosenjit Chatterjee, filmmaker Priyadarshan and Grammy-winning musician Ricky Kej to its new 18-member board.
The CBFC is headed by Chairman Shashi Shekhar Vempati. The reconstituted Board has been granted a tenure of three years or will continue until further orders, whichever is earlier.
(With input from agencies)
