Information Ministry endorses ban on Smoking Ban

The information and broadcasting ministry has endorsed the health ministry’s call for a ban on smoking on screen. However, the health ministry has agreed to information ministry’s plea to exempt films already made or those that dealt with social messages on smoking.

The ban will come into effect from the forthcoming birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi that falls on October 2, 2005.

The Censor Board will then strictly follow this rule while awarding fit for exhibition certificates to films. Besides, a down linking policy framework will soon be readied for foreign channels. These channels will have their offices in India to strictly follow these guidelines.