India Mandates Accessibility for Movie Theaters

New Delhi- The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has notified that the new accessibility standards for feature films to be screened in movie theaters will be implemented on September 15, 2024.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry, "The new guidelines apply to those feature films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for public exhibition in cinema halls/movie theaters for commercial purposes. All feature films* that are to be certified in more than one language would be required to provide at least one accessibility feature each for the hearing impaired and visually impaired, i.e. Closed Captioning/Open Captioning and Audio Description."

The Ministry further said that it has taken a "significant step" towards making cinema viewing more "inclusive and accessible" for persons with disabilities. Through this, the new guidelines will ensure that feature films are accessible to everyone, including those with hearing and visual impairment.

It is to be noted that the "Accessibility Standards" module in E-Cinepramaan has been successfully deployed and the applicants can now submit their films with the required accessibility features for the hearing and visually impaired.