Shri Shashi Shekhar Vempati Appointed as Chairperson of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)

1. At a Glance

CBFC is a statutory body under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), constituted under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, responsible for certification (not censorship) of films for public exhibition in India [S2][S4].
Shri Shashi Shekhar Vempati, former CEO of Prasar Bharati, has been appointed CBFC Chairperson by MIB notification dated 6 May 2026 for a three-year term [S1].
Examinable for Prelims (statutory body + parent ministry + Act) and Mains (creative freedom vs. regulation, GS-II governance).

2. Why in the News

MIB notification dated 6 May 2026 appointed Shashi Shekhar Vempati as Chairperson, CBFC for 3 years [S1].
Vacancy arose after Prasoon Joshi was elevated as Chairman, Prasar Bharati, and stepped down from CBFC [S1].

3. Background & Evolution

Cinematograph Act enacted 1952 to provide certification of films and regulate exhibitions via cinematographs [S2].
Central Board of Film Censors established 1951; renamed Central Board of Film Certification in 1983 with notification of Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 1983 [S2].
Act amended after ~40 years; Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024 notified in supersession of the 1983 Rules [S2][S3].
New age-based certification categories ("U", "UA 7+", "UA 13+", "UA 16+", "A") operational w.e.f. 24 October 2024 [S3].

4. Core Static Facts

Nature: Statutory body (not constitutional, not regulatory authority) [S2].
Parent Ministry: Ministry of Information & Broadcasting [S1][S2].
Enabling law: Cinematograph Act, 1952; current rules: Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024 [S2][S3].
Headquarters: Mumbai; 9 Regional Offices (including Guwahati for North-East) [S2].
Composition: Chairperson + non-official members appointed by Central Government; tenure governed by Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024 [S2].
Certification categories (w.e.f. 24.10.2024): U / UA 7+ / UA 13+ / UA 16+ / A — age markers are recommendatory for parents/guardians [S3].
Workflow tool: e-Cinepramaan portal (digital certification); average certification time reduced to ~18 days against statutory 48 days [S2].
Women participation: CBFC mandates 50% women's participation in every Examining and Revising Committee [S2].
Output: 71,963 films certified over 2020-21 to 2024-25 [S2].
New Chairperson: Shri Shashi Shekhar Vempati; tenure 3 years from joining [S1].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Legal / Constitutional: CBFC derives authority from Cinematograph Act, 1952; certification has been read by Supreme Court (KA Abbas v. UoI, 1970) as reasonable restriction on Art. 19(1)(a) under Art. 19(2). Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023 introduced anti-piracy provisions and revised age-based categories — operationalised via the 2024 Rules [S2][S3].
Administrative / Governance: Shift from "censorship" to "certification" framework; digitisation via e-Cinepramaan reduced average turnaround from 48→18 days [S2]. Tenure rules for Board members standardised under 2024 Rules, addressing earlier ad-hocism [S2].
Social: 50% mandatory women representation in Examining/Revising Committees promotes gender-sensitive content review [S2]. New age sub-categories (7+/13+/16+) align with child-protection norms and global practice (UK BBFC, US MPA).
Ethical: Tension between creative freedom (Art. 19(1)(a)) and community standards; recommendatory (not mandatory) age markers shift onus partly to parents/guardians [S3].
Technological: e-Cinepramaan multilingual module streamlines certification across languages [S2].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

6 May 2026: Shashi Shekhar Vempati appointed CBFC Chairperson for 3 years [S1].
2026: Prasoon Joshi elevated to Chairman, Prasar Bharati, vacating CBFC chair [S1].
24 Oct 2024: New age-based categories (UA 7+/13+/16+) operational under Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024 [S3].
March 2024: Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024 notified, superseding 1983 Rules [S2].
Certification turnaround reduced to average 18 days via e-Cinepramaan [S2].

7. Prelims Hooks

CBFC is a statutory body under the Cinematograph Act, 1952 (not Constitution) [S2].
Parent ministry: Ministry of Information & Broadcasting [S1][S2].
HQ at Mumbai, with 9 regional offices [S2].
Renamed from Central Board of Film Censors → Central Board of Film Certification in 1983 [S2].
New certification categories effective 24 October 2024: U, UA 7+, UA 13+, UA 16+, A [S3].
Age markers (7+/13+/16+) are recommendatory, not legally restrictive [S3].
Current rules: Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024 (replacing 1983 Rules) [S2][S3].
Digital certification portal: e-Cinepramaan [S2].
Statutory ceiling for certification: 68 days (Cinematograph Act); achieved average ~18 days [S2].
50% women in every Examining and Revising Committee [S2].
71,963 films certified between 2020-21 and 2024-25 [S2].
Outgoing Chairperson Prasoon Joshi moved to chair Prasar Bharati (an autonomous statutory body under Prasar Bharati Act, 1990) [S1].
New Chairperson Shashi Shekhar Vempati: former CEO Prasar Bharati [S1].
Term of CBFC Chairperson: 3 years from joining [S1].

8. Mains Relevance

GS-II: Statutory bodies; role of regulatory institutions; government policies and interventions for development in cultural/media sectors.
GS-I (Society): Effects of cinema/media on society; representation; gender.
Possible question stems: 1. "Examine the shift from censorship to certification in India's film regulation framework. How do the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024 advance this objective?" 2. "Critically assess the balance between creative freedom under Article 19(1)(a) and the statutory powers of the CBFC." 3. "Age-based film certification markers are recommendatory, not regulatory. Discuss the implications for child protection and parental responsibility."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

Prasar Bharati — autonomous broadcaster under Prasar Bharati Act, 1990; linked via Prasoon Joshi's elevation.
Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023 — parent statutory amendment.
Press Council of India — sister statutory body under MIB.
Shyam Benegal Committee (2016) — recommended certification reform; basis for 2024 Rules.
Article 19(1)(a) & 19(2) — reasonable restrictions and free speech.
KA Abbas v. Union of India (1970) — landmark SC ruling on film censorship.
Information Technology Rules, 2021 (OTT/Digital Media) — parallel regulation of OTT content.
National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) — merged with Films Division, Film Certification archives.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

Constitutional vs. statutory: CBFC is statutory under the Cinematograph Act, 1952 — not a constitutional body [S2].
Censorship vs. Certification: CBFC certifies, it does not censor; renaming happened in 1983 [S2].
Wrong parent: Parent is MIB, not Ministry of Culture [S1][S2].
Categories: Old "U/UA/A/S" replaced; UA 7+, UA 13+, UA 16+ introduced w.e.f. 24 Oct 2024 — easy to confuse with old "UA" [S3].
Prasar Bharati ≠ CBFC: Prasar Bharati is an autonomous public broadcaster (under Prasar Bharati Act, 1990); CBFC is the film certifier under Cinematograph Act, 1952.

11. Sources

[S1] Shri Shashi Shekhar Vempati Appointed as Chairperson of CBFC — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2258356 — (tier 1)
[S2] CBFC Continues Digital Transformation; Tenure of Board Members Governed by Cinematograph (Certification Rules), 2024 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2239721 — (tier 1); Cinematograph Act, 1952 — https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/2170/5/a1952-37.pdf — (tier 1); Certification time reduced — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2223140 — (tier 1); 50% women participation — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2199334 — (tier 1)
[S3] CBFC introduces new film certification categories — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2073592 — (tier 1); Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024 notified — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2014950 — (tier 1)