Censor Board

The CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification), popularly known as Censor Board is a quasi-judicial body coming under the control of the Govt. of India. Once a film is certified, the exhibition of the film in the cinema halls comes under the purview of the respective State Government. Therefore, enforcement of Cinematograph Act is the sole responsibility of the State law and order machinery, namely, the Police Commissioners, the Collectors and the SPs of the Districts. The CBFC does not have any special police force of its own to enforce the provisions of Cinematograph Act.

Please check the publicity posters of the films and find out whether the category of certificate ( ‘U’, ’UA’, ‘A’ of ‘S’) issued by the Central Board of Film Certification has been indicated on it.

Please check whether children below 18 years of age are inside the theatre to witness a film which has been granted an 'A’ Certificate.


The censorship of films is governed by the The Cinematograph Act,1952, the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules promulgated in 1983 and the guidelines issued on December 6, 1991. The guidelines are issued under Section 5B of the Act. This section says that ' a film shall not be certified for public exhibition, if, in the opinion of the authority competent to grant the certificate, the film or any part of it is against the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the States, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality or involves defamation or contempt of court or is likely to incite the commission of any offence

U - Unrestricted Public Exhibition
UA - Unrestricted Public Exhibition - But With Parental Guidance
A - Restricted to adults
S- Restricted to any special class of persons
Sanction of any of the above category
subject to Excisions and Modifications

Asha Parekh was the first female chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (Censor Board) of India. She held the post from 1998 to 2001. She made many controversial decisions including not giving clearance to Shekhar Kapur's Elizabeth.