After smoking and drinking, films without anti-drug warnings won't receive CBFC certification: Centre
Here's the latest update from the Bollywood world:
Films depicting consumption, use or trafficking of narcotic drugs will have to carry an anti-drug warning, with the Centre making the requirement part of the guidelines governing certification of films for public exhibition.
Adding to this, Films depicting narcotics will now mandatorily have to include anti-drug warnings. (Unplash/Representational image) Under the revised 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."
Meanwhile, The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting notified the amended guidelines on September 16 under the Cinematograph Act.
Notably, The move marks a change from the earlier certification guidelines, which required the Central Board of Movie 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.
As per the latest buzz, Last month, the ministry asked OTT platforms to prominently display the same warning during scenes depicting consumption or use of narcotic drugs.
In further updates, A similar advisory was issued to private satellite television channels.
On top of that, The movie certification guidelines lay down the principles the CBFC must follow when examining films for public exhibition under the Cinematograph Act.
The guidelines were last amended in May 2025, when the government incorporated the three age-based parental guidance categories -- U/A 7 , U/A 13 and U/A 16 -- into them. The categories, introduced following amendments to the Cinematograph Act in 2023, advise parental guidance for children below seven, 13 and 16 years, respectively.
Source: Hindustan Times