The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has named former Prasar Bharati chief Shashi Shekhar Vempati as the new chief of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Rajnath Singh announced on Saturday in a party meeting in Lucknow. The Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Rajnath Singh, on Saturday at a party function in Lucknow, appointed former Prasar Bharati chief Shashi Shekhar Vempati as the new chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Vempati would be appointed to fill the vacancy on 6 May 2026 and would hold a three-year tenure. He replaces famed lyricist and writer Prasoon Joshi, who has recently been appointed chairman of Prasar Bharati. Vempati is an innovator in the fields of media reform, digital broadcasting, and public communication, having served as a driving force for change. The appointment is rumoured to boost the working and modernisation of India’s film certification system.
Shashi Shekhar Vempati Takes Charge as New CBFC Chairman
- 6 May 2026: The Government of India appointed Shashi Shekhar Vempati as the new chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
- He will serve for 3 years from the time he takes charge.
- Vempati replaces Prasoon Joshi, who was appointed Chairman of Prasar Bharati recently.
- Vempati has also “enormous experience in media, broadcasting and public communication”, says the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
- Prasar Bharati has also had the services of Shashi Shekhar Vempati as its CEO from 2017 to 2022.
- While serving at Prasar Bharati, he emphasised digitisation and Doordarshan and AIR modernisation.
- Educated at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, he also has a background in the tech industry before joining media administration.
- Vempati is also the co-founder of AI4India.org, a national movement to encourage access to artificial intelligence technologies in India.
- The CBFC is a statutory organisation under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting that controls the public screening of movies as per the Cinematograph Act, 1952.
- The board reviews movies and approves them for theatrical release in India with various categories like U, U/A, A, and S.
- According to the sources, Vempati’s role will further bolster the activities of the CBFC in the changing dynamics of online and on-screen content.
- His knowledge of technology, government, and public broadcasting is expected to help make the films more efficiently.
About the Central Board of Film Certification
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), also called the Censor Board, is a statutory body of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for the regulation of public screening of films in India under the Cinematograph Act, 1952. CBFC was formed on 15 January 1951, and its office is in Mumbai. It was formerly known as the Central Board of Film Censors and later changed to the Central Board of Film Certification in 1983. The board certifies films as U (universal), U/A (universal/ages 10 and older), A (adult), and S (senior). Justice G.D. Khosla was the first chairman of the CBFC. The organisation operates through region-wise offices in India.
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Conclusion – Former Prasar Bharati CEO to Lead CBFC as New Chairman
Shashi Shekhar Vempati’s new appointment as the Chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification has turned out to be a major development in India’s media and film certification regime. He has a wealth of experience in public broadcasting, digital transformation, and governance, which he will bring to the certification process to ensure administrative efficiency and modernization. His guidance could also facilitate CBFC’s adaptation to emerging trends in movie and digital content production and adherence to regulatory norms. The appointment is also seen as part of the government’s plans to bolster media institutions with seasoned technology and communication professionals.
