Indian Film Promotion Institutions

The Indian film sector is supported by a mix of promotional institutions, archival bodies, and regulatory authorities under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB). These bodies handle film production support, preservation, festival promotion, certification, and scheme-based funding.

National Film Development Corporation (NFDC)

• Role after merger: In March 2022, the MIB merged four film media units into the NFDC to consolidate key film-related functions.
• Merged units: Films Division (1948), Children’s Film Society, India (1955), National Film Archive of India (1964), and Directorate of Film Festivals (1973).
• Functions: The NFDC now handles film production, including documentaries and children’s content, along with domestic and international promotion, preservation, restoration, and digital archiving.
• Legacy identity: The brand name Films Division continues as the documentary production vertical.
• Ownership: Operational responsibilities were integrated under NFDC, while physical and archival assets remain with the Government of India.
• Leadership: Shri Prakash Magdum, a 1999-batch Indian Information Service officer, serves as Managing Director of the NFDC.

Development, Communication and Dissemination of Filmic Content Scheme

• Scheme nature: The Development, Communication and Dissemination of Filmic Content (DCDFC) Scheme is a central sector scheme of the MIB.
• Purpose: It supports the film sector through financial assistance, promotional initiatives, and institutional funding.
• Budget support: The Central Government allocated a cumulative ₹1,304.52 crore under the scheme up to 2026.
• FY 2024–25: ₹340.68 crore was allocated, of which ₹324.21 crore was utilised.
• FY 2025–26: ₹232.46 crore was allocated, with ₹156.86 crore utilised as of February 26, 2026.

National Film Heritage Mission

• Mission body: The National Film Heritage Mission (NFHM) functions under NFDC-NFAI.
• Project outlay: The total outlay is ₹597.41 crore.
• Restoration share: Of this, ₹363 crore is earmarked for film restoration.
• Digitisation progress: As of December 2025, 1,469 film titles, covering nearly 4.3 lakh minutes of footage, had been digitised under the mission.
• Restoration work: The mission has supported major restorations, including the Malayalam classic Kireedam and the complete feature filmography of Ritwik Ghatak.
• Museum link: The National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC) in Mumbai functions under the NFDC.
• Visitor trend: The NMIC recorded more than 17,000 visitors in May 2026, one of its highest monthly footfalls.

Certification and Regulatory Framework

• CBFC: The Central Board of Film Certification is a statutory body under the MIB.
• Legal basis: It regulates public exhibition of films under the Cinematograph Act, 1952.
• Chairperson: Shri Shashi Shekhar Vempati was appointed Chairperson of the CBFC on May 6, 2026, for a three-year term.
• Succession: He succeeded Prasoon Joshi.
• Study Group: On June 29, 2026, the MIB constituted a high-level Study Group to examine structural reforms in the film industry, including institutional finance options and the impact of new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence.
• Chairmanship: The Study Group was chaired by Prasoon Joshi.
• State-level reform: The MIB also drafted and circulated Model State Cinema Regulations in June 2026 to support the expansion of cinema halls and screens across states and Union Territories.

Institutional Merger and Film Preservation Ecosystem

• Films Division: Established in 1948, it focused on documentaries and news magazine production.
• CFSI: Established in 1955, it produced children’s films and value-based content.
• NFAI: Established in 1964, it traced, acquired, and preserved Indian cinema.
• DFF: Established in 1973, it organised national and international film festivals.
• Integrated framework: Their merger under NFDC was aimed at streamlining production, preservation, and promotion functions.

Key Prelims Takeaways

• NFDC merger: Four legacy film units were merged into NFDC in March 2022.
• Legacy bodies: Films Division, CFSI, NFAI, and DFF now operate within the integrated NFDC framework.
• DCDFC Scheme: A central sector scheme of the MIB for film sector support and promotion.
• NFHM outlay: ₹597.41 crore, with ₹363 crore reserved for restoration.
• CBFC role: Statutory certification body under the Cinematograph Act, 1952.
• Model State Cinema Regulations: Issued to facilitate cinema screen expansion at the state and UT level.
• NMIC: The National Museum of Indian Cinema operates under NFDC in Mumbai.