The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has amended India’s film-certification guidelines to require an anti-drug warning to be displayed during scenes depicting the consumption, use or trafficking of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances.
The amendment was notified on September 16, 2026, under the Cinematograph Act. It introduces a specific on-screen warning requirement into the guidelines followed by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) when examining films for public exhibition.
Under the amended provision, whenever a film shows the use, consumption or trafficking of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, the prescribed warning must appear on screen during the relevant depiction. The warning reads: “Illicit Narcotics Destroy Health and Guarantees Imprisonment. Say No to Drugs.”
Under the amended provision, whenever a film shows the use, consumption or trafficking of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, the prescribed warning must appear on screen during the relevant depiction. The warning reads: “Illicit Narcotics Destroy Health and Guarantees Imprisonment. Say No to Drugs.”
Under the amended provision, whenever a film shows the use, consumption or trafficking of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, the prescribed warning must appear on screen during the relevant depiction. The warning reads: “Illicit Narcotics Destroy Health and Guarantees Imprisonment. Say No to Drugs.”
This is different from the earlier requirement. The existing certification guidelines already addressed drug-related depictions, directing the CBFC to ensure that scenes tending to encourage, justify or glamorise drug addiction were not shown. The new provision goes further by requiring a warning even where the depiction itself is being permitted as part of the film.
The change adds drugs to a set of existing rules governing how certain potentially harmful or sensitive behaviour is presented on screen.
Films depicting smoking or tobacco use are already subject to prescribed anti-tobacco health warnings. Under the applicable tobacco-control requirements, a health warning has to accompany depictions of tobacco products or their use, along with other prescribed anti-tobacco messaging.
Alcohol is covered differently. The film-certification guidelines require the CBFC to ensure that scenes tending to encourage, justify or glamorise drinking are not shown. The guidelines therefore regulate the depiction itself rather than prescribing a general on-screen warning for every drinking scene.
The new drug provision also follows recent government action covering other screen formats. In August, the Ministry issued directions requiring OTT platforms to display an anti-drug warning during scenes depicting the consumption or use of narcotic drugs. A similar advisory was issued to private satellite television channels.
For filmmakers, the September 16 notification means that a film containing permitted depictions of narcotic use, consumption or trafficking will now have to accommodate the prescribed warning as part of its presentation when submitted for certification.
