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Shashi Shekhar Vempati Appointed CBFC Chairperson
New Delhi: The Government of India has appointed Shashi Shekhar Vempati as the Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in an honorary capacity.
The appointment, made under the powers conferred by the Cinematograph Act, 1952, will be effective immediately and will continue for a period of three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Shashi Shekhar Vempati will be the new Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification for a period of three years. Earlier, he served as the CEO of Prasar Bharati.@shashidigital @prasarbharati @CBFC_MIB
— Dynamite News (@DynamiteNews_) May 6, 2026
The notification, issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, formalizes Shri Vempati’s leadership role at CBFC, the apex body responsible for regulating and certifying films for public exhibition across the country.
Shri Vempati’s appointment comes at a time when the film industry is witnessing significant transformations in content creation, distribution, and digital streaming, underscoring the importance of a balanced and contemporary approach to film certification.
The government’s official notification has been circulated to all CBFC regional offices, the CEO of CBFC, and relevant officials within the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
His appointment is widely expected to bring a unique blend of policy, media, and technology experience to CBFC, as the board navigates evolving content standards amid the rapid growth of digital and theatrical platforms. Industry observers note that his transition from BARC to CBFC reflects a shift from audience measurement to content regulation-two critical pillars of India’s media landscape. While BARC provides viewership data that drives advertising strategies, the CBFC remains the statutory authority for certifying films for public exhibition.
Vempati’s career spans over two decades across technology, governance, and media. An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, he spent over 16 years at Infosys as a product strategist and digital innovator before moving into the media sector. In 2013, he became CEO of NitiCentral, marking his entry into policy-oriented media platforms.
He later served as CEO of Prasar Bharati, leading the public broadcaster’s digital transformation and modernization of legacy platforms such as Doordarshan and All India Radio. Beyond broadcasting, Vempati has been active in policy and academic circles, co-founding the DeepTech for Bharat Foundation and holding positions including membership in the society of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication and chairing the Science & Technology Communication Apex Advisory Committee.
His regulatory expertise was particularly visible during the 2020 television ratings controversy, when he chaired a four-member committee appointed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to review guidelines governing television rating agencies, enhancing transparency and credibility in the sector.
At CBFC, Vempati will confront a different set of challenges. The board has increasingly been at the center of debates on creative freedom, certification norms, and the delicate balance between regulation and artistic expression. With the rise of OTT platforms and changing audience preferences, the CBFC’s role in defining content boundaries is under heightened scrutiny.
