CBFC Certification: ‘Say No to Drugs’ warning made part of Centre's film certification guidelines
Issuing a clarification on CBFC certification guidelines, the Centre said on Sunday that the latest change, notified on September 16, 2026, provides for the inclusion of an anti-drug message in films depicting the use of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has announced that films depicting the consumption, use or trafficking of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances will now carry an anti-drug warning. This change, implemented on September 16, 2026, requires the inclusion of the message: "Illicit Narcotics Destroy Health and Guarantees Imprisonment.
Say No to Drugs." Previously, the CBFC was only required to prevent scenes that encourage, justify or glamorise drug addiction. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting notified the amended guidelines, marking a shift from the earlier certification guidelines. Last month, the ministry also asked OTT platforms and private satellite television channels to display the same warning during such scenes.
The guidelines, last amended in 2024, now include three age-based parental guidance categories and address various aspects such as depictions of violence, cruelty, and sexual content. The CBFC, reconstituted in 2026, is headed by chairperson Shashi Shekhar Vempati and includes prominent figures from the film industry.
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