Onlykashmir.in News Desk
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Sunday announced two major policy decisions aimed at strengthening India’s film industry, expanding cinema infrastructure and making Indian cinema more competitive in global markets. The decisions were taken at a high-level review meeting chaired by Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw in New Delhi, attended by senior ministry officials.
The first decision involves the constitution of a high-level Study Group to be chaired by Prasoon Joshi, the noted lyricist and creative professional who serves as Chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification. The group will include industry experts and technology partners and will be tasked with a comprehensive examination of the opportunities and challenges facing Indian cinema. It is expected to recommend measures to strengthen the sector’s global competitiveness, explore the impact of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual production, and identify mechanisms to improve access to institutional finance and new funding options for filmmakers.
The Study Group will also address structural issues in film production and distribution, engage with state governments to identify best practices, and develop a complete policy framework for the long-term growth of Indian cinema. Its mandate requires it to consult all relevant stakeholders across the country and submit its findings to the Ministry within three months, making its work a time-bound exercise with a clear deliverable.
The second decision concerns the regulation of cinema exhibition infrastructure across Indian states. Since cinemas and theatres fall under the State List of the Constitution, regulatory frameworks for permissions and licences vary significantly from one state to another. This divergence has historically served as a major obstacle to expanding cinema infrastructure, particularly in small towns and rural areas where the absence of standardised, streamlined regulations has deterred investment in new screens.
To address this, the Ministry has prepared a set of Model State Cinema Regulations, drafted after extensive consultations with stakeholders. These model rules have been circulated to all state governments with a request that they adopt them. The Ministry has also committed to assisting states in implementing the rules, removing a significant bottleneck to the growth of cinema exhibition across the country.
India’s cinema industry is one of the largest in the world by number of films produced, yet screen density per capita remains well below global benchmarks, limiting the industry’s revenue potential. Both decisions announced by the Ministry, taken together, represent a structured effort to address supply-side constraints and position Indian cinema for sustained growth in an increasingly competitive global entertainment environment.
