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India Mandates Anti-Drug Warnings in Films Under Revised Rules
India has changed the rules used to approve films for public viewing.
Movies showing illegal drugs must now display a warning on screen.
The warning says that illegal narcotics damage health and can lead to imprisonment.
Before this change, officials mainly had to stop films from encouraging or glorifying drug addiction.
Similar warnings were recently requested for streaming services and private satellite television channels.
The Central Board of Film Certification uses these rules when examining films.
The rules also address violence, sexual content, criminal methods and public order.
The government notified the change on September 16, 2026.
Reports differ on whether the previous major guideline update was in 2024 or 2025.
Films depicting the consumption, use or trafficking of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances must carry an anti-drug warning.
The prescribed message is: “Illicit Narcotics Destroy Health and Guarantees Imprisonment. Say No to Drugs.”
The amended film-certification guidelines were notified by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on September 16, 2026.
Earlier rules barred depictions that encouraged, justified or glamorised drug addiction but did not require a specific warning.
The framework also covers violence, criminal methods, sexual content, public order, national security and foreign relations.
- Who
- The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Central Board of Film Certification and filmmakers whose films depict narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances.
- What
- A mandatory anti-drug warning has been added to India’s film-certification guidelines for relevant drug-related scenes.
- Where
- India, under the film-certification framework governed by the Cinematograph Act.
- When
- The amended guidelines were notified on September 16, 2026; similar directions for OTT platforms were issued the previous month.
- Why
- To require a specific warning alongside existing restrictions on depictions that encourage, justify or glamorise drug addiction.
Key facts
- Regulating authority
- Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
- Certification body
- Central Board of Film Certification
- Notification date
- September 16, 2026
- Required warning
- “Illicit Narcotics Destroy Health and Guarantees Imprisonment. Say No to Drugs.”
- Affected depictions
- Consumption, use or trafficking of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances
- Related platforms
- OTT platforms and private satellite television channels
- Earlier framework
- Earlier rules prohibited encouraging, justifying or glamorising drug addiction but did not prescribe a specific warning
- Reported amendment history
- One report says the guidelines were last amended in 2025; another identifies 2024 as the previous substantive amendment
Sources
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