OTT content to remain outside the purview of CBFC, government supports self-regulation

December 17, 2025

New Delhi: Online streaming content will not fall under the jurisdiction of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and will remain regulated under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, as before. This information was announced in Parliament on Wednesday. Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan clarified that the CBFC, constituted under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, is only responsible for certifying films for theatrical release, not for OTT content.

Three-tier regulatory framework

Under the IT Rules, 2021, OTT platforms are required to follow a code of conduct, which includes avoiding content prohibited by law and implementing age-based classification. The regulatory framework is based on three levels—self-regulation by publishers, monitoring by self-regulatory bodies of publishers, and oversight by the central government.

Complaint Redressal and Supreme Court Comments

The government stated that complaints related to OTT content are first sent to the respective platforms, ensuring accountability at the publisher level. L. Murugan stated that this system was designed to maintain content standards and address public concerns, without subjecting OTT platforms to CBFC certification.

In April this year, the Supreme Court described the broadcast of obscene content on OTT platforms and social media as a “serious concern” and sought a response from the central government on the issue.