A film can show a character taking drugs, selling them or getting caught in the world of narcotics. But there is now one thing the makers cannot leave out: a warning telling viewers what drugs can lead to.
The Centre has made anti-drug warnings mandatory in films that depict the consumption, use or trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting notified the revised film certification guidelines on September 16 under the Cinematograph Act.
What the new warning says
Whenever a film shows scenes involving the consumption, use or trafficking of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, it will have to carry the warning:
“Illicit Narcotics Destroy Health and Guarantees Imprisonment. Say No to Drugs.”
The requirement is a new addition to the rules followed by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) while examining films meant for public exhibition.
The earlier guidelines already dealt with the portrayal of drugs. They said the CBFC should ensure that scenes encouraging, justifying or glamorising drug addiction were not shown.
However, those rules did not require filmmakers to put a specific anti-drug warning on screen.
OTT platforms and TV channels already got the message
The Centre’s move for films follows similar directions issued for other forms of entertainment.
Last month, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting asked OTT platforms to prominently display the same anti-drug warning during scenes showing the consumption or use of narcotic drugs.
Private satellite television channels were also given a similar advisory.
The latest change now brings films submitted for theatrical certification under the same approach.
What the film certification rules cover
The film certification guidelines set out the principles that the CBFC must follow while examining movies for public exhibition under the Cinematograph Act.
They cover much more than drug-related scenes.
The guidelines require the board to ensure that anti-social activities, including violence, are not glorified or justified. They also say that criminal methods likely to encourage offences should not be depicted in a way that could incite such acts.
Drug addiction is specifically covered, with the rules stating that scenes encouraging, justifying or glamorising it should not be shown.
The guidelines also deal with violence, cruelty and sexual content. They cover material that could affect public order, the security of the State or India’s relations with foreign countries.
Age ratings were added last year
The guidelines were last amended in May 2025.
That amendment brought three age-based parental guidance categories into the certification framework: U/A 7, U/A 13 and U/A 16.
The categories were introduced after amendments to the Cinematograph Act in 2023. They advise parental guidance for children below seven, 13 and 16 years, respectively.
The new anti-drug warning is therefore being added to an already detailed set of rules governing what audiences may see on screen.
CBFC gets a new board
The change also comes just after the Centre reconstituted the CBFC.
On Wednesday, actors Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi, Suniel Shetty, Pallavi Joshi and Prosenjit Chatterjee were among those brought onto the new 18-member board. Filmmaker Priyadarshan and Grammy-winning musician Ricky Kej are also part of the reconstituted board.
The CBFC is headed by chairperson Shashi Shekhar Vempati.
The new board has been given a three-year term. It will remain in place for that period or until further orders, whichever comes earlier.
- CBFC
