GUIDELINES FOR DOCUMENTARY FILING IN INDIA

Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India has issued new guidelines for documentary filing in India. These guidelines are valid w.e.f. September 1, 2012. The guidelines may please be followed before any request for filming of documentary is proposed for approval of Government of India.  The important points of the guidelines are given below:

1. The Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi will issue clearances for shooting involving non sensitive/non restricted location and are on general issues like tourism, Sports, Corporate documentaries, commercial etc. and where no reference/clearance from Government of India Ministry/Authority/Agency is required.

1. Prior clearance from Ministry of External Affairs will be required, whether shooting locations involves filming in border/restricted/protected areas, filming in tribal areas and also on sensitive issues. An indicative list of such issues has been attached as annexure 1. The process may take around 8-10 weeks for clearances.

1. The list of restricted and protected areas is available on the website of Foreigners Division, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. (http://mha.nic.in/foreigDiv/PAP.html).

1. Following sets of documents are required for processing a documentary filming application

1. Application form- available on the website of Ministry of External Affairs
2. Undertaking – as available on the website of Ministry of External Affairs
3. Synopsis
4. Complete list of locations with date of shooting
5. Crew List
6. Equipment list

1. The production companies coming to India for filing projects, if require to temporarily import photographic equipment, will also require clearances from Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi. It may be noted that satellite equipment are not permitted to import to India.

1. Where the filing is required to be done at locations/monuments/areas falling under Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)/ Indian Railways/Civil Aviations, necessary clearance from the concerned agencies is required. The clearance has to be obtained directly by the filming company or their local representative in India.  Where applicable, necessary fees has to be paid to the concerned agencies for using the service.

Annexure 1

Documentary by foreign Audio Visual Agencies in India: List of Issues requiring prior approval

1. Prior approval may be sought in cases where filming is to be carried out in areas requiring restricted Areas Permit/Protected Area Permit (RAP/PAP) or restricted areas such as border districts, defense installations and other areas of strategic importance, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
2. Prior clearance of MHA, line ministries/Departments and the state governments concerned may be sought when the proposed documentary deals with the following issues:
3. Sensitive political, religious, social or communal issues;
4. India’s Foreign Relations;
5. Inter-State relations in India
6. Defense/Security matters;
7. Human rights;
8. Women’s issues viz. violence against woman, trafficking status of widows and other vulnerable women,
9. Trafficking in children viz. child labour, child beggars and street children,  sexual exploitation of children;
10. Health, including public health, HIV/AIDS, leprosy etc.
11. Female feticides;
12. Tribal issues
13. NGO matters
14. Juveniles and
15. Environmental issues, including wildlife conservation and animal rights;
16.