Where earlier a single-window clearance system was only available to foreign filmmakers, post the announcement of the Union Budget 2019 by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, it’ll also be made available to Indian filmmakers.

“To promote the entertainment industry, single-window clearance for ease of shooting films, earlier available only to the foreign filmmakers is now going to be available to the Indian filmmakers as well,” the FM said.

That’s not all – the Interim Budget for 2019-20 also has anti-camcording provisions in a bid to control the menace of piracy.

“We would also introduce anti-camcording provisions in the cinematograph act to control the piracy,” Goyal said. The Financial Express cites a joint report by Assocham and PwC which states that the Indian media and entertainment industry will likely touch USD 52,683 million (around Rs 3.73 lakh crore) by 2022.

The budget was met with appreciation from those in the film industry who share Goyal’s optimism that it’ll help promote the entertainment sector.

“We are delighted that the immense contribution of Indian cinema towards employment generation in the country has been acknowledged and applauded in Parliament during the presentation of the Union Budget. The announcement of a single-window clearance mechanism for Indian filmmakers filming within India is a significant step and has the potential to play a huge role in boosting tourism in the country. The amendments in the Anti Camcording provisions will support the industry’s growth by curtailing illegal recordings of films in cinema halls and will go a long way towards reducing piracy,” Siddharth Roy Kapur, President of the Producers Guild of India said, according to TOI.

(Picture credits: IMDb)