Centre notifies new age-based film certification categories under U/A rating

The CBFC had final yr launched a revised certification framework aligned with prevailing social values and aimed toward enhancing age-appropriate content material categorisation. Representational file picture.
| Photo Credit: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

The Union authorities on Saturday notified revised age-based certification categories for movies, aimed toward encouraging age-appropriate viewing, significantly for audiences requiring parental steerage.

In a gazette notification, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting amended the foundations final notified in December 1991, which define the rules for sanctioning movies for public exhibition.

Under the amended guidelines, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is empowered to situation certificates for unrestricted public exhibition with particular endorsements indicating the character and sort of content material, marked as ‘U/A 7+’, ‘U/A 13+’, and ‘U/A 16+’.

“Content suitable for a child aged seven years and above and under the age of seven years with parental guidance shall be classified as ‘U/A 7+’ rating; (ii) content suitable for a child aged thirteen years and above and under the age of thirteen years with parental guidance shall be classified as ‘U/A 13+’ rating; and (iii) content suitable for a child aged sixteen years and above and under the age of sixteen years with parental guidance shall be classified as ‘U/A 16+’ rating,” the notification said.

The CBFC had final yr launched a revised certification framework aligned with prevailing social values and aimed toward enhancing age-appropriate content material categorisation. The reforms sought to modernise and streamline the general certification course of.

The three-tier sub-categorisation under the U/A rating replaces the sooner singular U/A classification relevant to kids under 12 years. The certification of movies is ruled by the Cinematograph Act, 1952.

Historically, film certification in India included solely two categories—‘U’ for unrestricted public exhibition and ‘A’ for adults solely, with restrictions on express content material resembling nudity. In 1983, the ‘U/A’ class was launched to permit unrestricted public viewing with parental steerage for youngsters under 12, together with an ‘S’ class, meant for specialised audiences resembling medical doctors or scientists.

The 1983 guidelines had set a single age threshold at 12 years for U/A movies, however the 2023 modification has now refined this with sub-classifications at 7, 13, and 16 years of age.