Mumbai: The Centre is evaluating a significant overhaul of India’s OTT regulatory framework by considering mandatory certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for films released on streaming platforms, marking a potential departure from the self-classification model introduced under the Information Technology Rules, 2021.
The move follows the withdrawal of Diljit Dosanjh-starrer Satluj from ZEE5 shortly after its digital debut. The film, earlier known as Punjab 95, had reportedly remained without CBFC certification after disagreements over suggested edits before being released directly on OTT.
While the government can already direct the removal of online content on grounds such as national security, sovereignty and public order, OTT films currently do not require prior CBFC approval. Instead, streaming platforms classify content based on age categories and are governed by a Code of Ethics under the IT Rules.
According to government sources, policymakers are now examining amendments that would require films released on OTT platforms to secure CBFC certification before streaming, effectively aligning digital releases with the theatrical certification process.
The development has also brought renewed attention to the legal responsibilities of OTT platforms. Unlike neutral intermediaries, services such as ZEE5 function as publishers of curated content, making them accountable for titles they acquire and distribute under the existing regulatory framework.
Separately, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has constituted an Inter-Departmental Committee to examine Satluj. The panel is understood to have recommended that access to the film remain blocked in India after concerns relating to national security were raised.
The proposed changes also raise broader policy questions, including whether mandatory certification would apply only to subscription-based OTT platforms or extend to films released directly through video-sharing platforms such as YouTube. The government would also need to define the scope of content covered, including documentaries, imported titles and direct-to-digital releases.
The Satluj episode is the second instance this year in which ZEE5 has faced regulatory scrutiny over a Punjab-related title, following the government’s advisory against streaming the documentary series Lawrence of Punjab earlier this year.
If implemented, mandatory CBFC certification would represent the most significant regulatory shift for India’s streaming industry since the introduction of the IT Rules, replacing platform-led content classification with a pre-release approval mechanism for films.
