In an effort to develop India into a major international filming destination, the information and broadcasting ministry is creating a single window mechanism and time-bound approval for film shooting.
As per the present system, film-makers, especially those from other countries, have to seek approvals from a plethora of local, state and Central agencies which made it difficult for them to come to India.
“There are a multiplicity of agencies which are engaged in this task of granting various clearances at different levels in government,” I&B secretary Bimal Julka said.
“The attempt is to simplify and rationalise procedures for foreign producers to come to India for shooting,” he added. As a part of the mechanism under which online shooting permissions can be provided in a time-bound manner, the I&B ministry is working to functionalise a detailed set of “standard operating procedures”.
There will be specific timelines as per which requests for shooting will be processed by various ministries or state departments.
The timelines for permissions from Central ministries in the SOP range from around five to 45 days while they are still being worked out for departments in state and local level.
The I&B ministry already has held a round of consultations with key ministries, like defence, tourism, culture, civil aviation and others.
Mr Julka said that while there were concerns including those related to security, “the need was still felt to have timelines for approvals to make the system more transparent and clear”.
He also said the ministry would create a website to assist film-makers who seek shooting permissions.