The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has clarified that except for one change providing for the inclusion of an anti-drug warning in films depicting the use of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, the cor…

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has clarified that except for one change providing for the inclusion of an anti-drug warning in films depicting the use of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, the core guidelines remain the same as before.Taking to X, PIB India issued the clarification, which was later shared by CBFC’s official X account.”The #CBFC Certification Guidelines were issued in 1991, and film certification has continued to be governed by these Guidelines for the past 35 years. During this period, two substantive changes have been introduced. In 2024, age markers under the UA category — UA 7+, UA 13+ and UA 16+ — were introduced,” the statement read.Important Clarification https://t.co/f9omlfULCL— CBFC केंद्रीय फिल्म प्रमाणन बोर्ड (@CBFC_Bharat) September 19, 2026

Further explaining the new change, the statement added, “The latest change, notified on 16 September 2026, provides for the inclusion of an anti-drug message in films depicting the use of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances.””Except for these two changes, the core provisions and principles governing film certification have remained unchanged over the past 35 years.”The clarification comes after the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s September 16 notification sharing the revised guidelines under the Cinematograph Act.Under the amended guidelines, scenes depicting or involving the consumption, use or trafficking of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances will have to carry the warning: “Illicit Narcotics Destroy Health and Guarantees Imprisonment. Say No to Drugs.”In exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 5B of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 (37 of 1952) and in supersession of notification No. S.O. 836(E), dated the 6th December, 1991, the Central Government has notified Revised Guidelines for Film Certification by CBFC pic.twitter.com/glSTuV7ZGf— CBFC केंद्रीय फिल्म प्रमाणन बोर्ड (@CBFC_Bharat) September 17, 2026 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 glamorise drug addiction” were not shown, but did not prescribe such a specific on-screen warning.Last month, the ministry directed OTT platforms to display the same warning during scenes depicting consumption or use of narcotic drugs.The guidelines were last amended in May 2025, under the government’s recommendations to include three age-based parental guidance categories (U/A 7+, U/A 13+, and U/A 16+). The categories, introduced following modifications to the Cinematograph Act in 2023, recommend parental advice for children under the ages of seven, thirteen, and sixteen, respectively.Centre reconstitutes CBFC; Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi among 18 membersOn September 16, the Centre reconstituted the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), bringing actors Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi, Suniel Shetty, Pallavi Joshi and Prosenjit Chatterjee, filmmaker Priyadarshan and Grammy-winning musician Ricky Kej, among others, onto the 18-member panel.The new board, headed by CBFC chairperson Shashi Shekhar Vempati, has been constituted for three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.(With inputs from PTI)

Source: Deccan Herald