Ex-Prasar Bharati Chief Shashi Shekhar Vempati Named New CBFC Chairman

The government has appointed Shashi Shekhar Vempati as the chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The decision was confirmed by official sources on Wednesday.

Vempati succeeds Prasoon Joshi , who has recently taken over as the chairman of Prasar Bharati after serving as the CBFC chief for more than eight years.

Professional Background Of The Appointee

An alumnus of IIT Bombay, Vempati has previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of Prasar Bharati. He is also known as an author and is associated with efforts to expand access to artificial intelligence through his role as a co-founder of an organisation working in this space.

Role And Functioning Of CBFC

The Central Board of Film Certification operates under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and is responsible for certifying films before they are publicly exhibited in India.

The certification process is governed by the Cinematograph Act, 1952, along with the Cinematograph Certification Rules, 1983, and guidelines issued by the central government under the relevant legal provisions.

Structure And Regional Network

The CBFC consists of a chairperson and non-official members, all appointed by the central government. Its headquarters is based in Mumbai, with regional offices located in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Cuttack and Guwahati.

These regional offices are supported by advisory panels comprising individuals from various fields. Panel members are nominated by the government for a period of two years and assist in the examination of films during the certification process.