New Delhi: The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), a statutory regulatory body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, has done away with its tatkal (priority) approval process. Originally introduced to enable filmmakers to expedite the approval process at a higher fee, the option allowed certification significantly earlier than the standard time period. While many have welcomed the removal of the expensive two-tier system, often exploited by larger production houses, others fear it banishes an integral safety net for producers facing tight release schedules, reported Mint.The decision, taken earlier this week, mandates all projects to follow the standard certification timeline ranging from 30 to 40 days, as opposed to the earlier 10-15 days-long fast-tracked method. Although all existing applications under the scheme will continue to be processed, no new requests will be permitted via the tatkal route.Why was the scheme scrapped?The tatkal certification scheme was implemented on March 15, 2024, for exceptional cases, however, several filmmakers had begun resorting to the route as a standard measure by paying up to three times the examination cost. The ministry reportedly discontinued the scheme to level the playing field for smaller producers who struggle to pay the premium price.The move comes after months-long industry-wide deliberation. According to Times Now, increasing dependence on tatkal applications exacerbated the pressure on the censor board and raised concerns of higher costs among smaller filmmakers who could not match big production houses.Several independent and regional producers spent nearly Rs 1 lakh – while average fees range between Rs 20,000 to Rs 40,000 – to secure certification within their planned timelines, reported Times Now.Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA) president Abhay Sinha told Bollywood Hungama,” We met Chanchal Kumar, secretary of the information and broadcasting ministry, and informed him that the tatkal scheme is causing agony to regional filmmakers. Hence, we requested him to look into it, as it was becoming unaffordable for several producers. Accordingly, they decided to scrap the scheme.”Concerns about delays in release timelinesIndustry executives believe the move will compel producers to plan release schedules well in advance due to the limited room for last-minute delays. Film producer Anand Pandit told Mint that “the impact will depend largely on how efficiently the regular certification process functions going forward. The tatkal scheme gave producers a safety net when release dates were approaching and marketing campaigns had already been locked in. For many producers, it acted as a backup when timelines became tight.”“What matters now is whether producers can rely on clear and consistent timelines. Everything now depends on how quickly certifications move through the regular system,” Pandit said, emphasising how filmmakers would now be forced to factor in the certification timeline into their release schedule beforehand. He added, “If the process remains predictable, most producers will adjust. If timelines start slipping, it becomes difficult to hold release dates, especially for smaller films that have little room for delays.”As CBFC certification is one of the final steps before a movie releases in India, a delay in the process could in turn disrupt marketing budgets, public relations timelines and post-production activities, such as visual effects, sound design and colour grading. Any uncertainty will further impact distributor agreements and theatre bookings.Kaushik Das, founder and CEO of Odia platform AAO NXT, told Mint that small and mid-size production firms may feel the brunt of the move most severely. “For a large studio with deep relationships and a release infrastructure built around buffer timelines, absorbing a few extra weeks is manageable,” he said, “For an independent producer or a regional content creator, the release window is often tightly tied to festivals, school holidays or platform delivery commitments.”Producers are yet to get any clarity on how speedily the certification will go through under the new change.Authorities reassure of timely examinationNevertheless, Das asserts that small filmmakers may stand to benefit from the development as the former fast-track route often shut out first-time Odia and Bengali filmmakers. The same treatment afforded to all movies, regardless of the socio-economic and regional background of their production team, removes a layer of structural advantage large production houses had over smaller ones. As per the Mint report, an equity in timelines and rigour can matter monumentally for the vitality of regional cinema.Film producer Girish Johar told Mint that “planning in advance will help control costs and ensure there is less stress on the CBFC.” Yet, Johar remains cautious about film release schedules over the next couple months, warning of delays and production challenges.Authorities have assured filmmakers that certifications would be given out in about 20 to 25 days after submission. Sinha added, “If you have published ads and publicity material mentioning the release date of your film, the CBFC officials will ensure that such films get certified in a timely manner.” Thus, care will be taken so as to not impact schedules of projects which have already announced release dates or are actively marketing the film.Ultimately, the long-term impact of this decision relies on the CBFC’s ability to deliver timely certifications within the promised 20-25 day window, as any lapse will most harshly affect producers who can least afford it.