Srinagar :The Centre on Friday said it is promoting Jammu and Kashmir as a preferred filmmaking destination by facilitating online shooting permissions through a single-window digital platform and showcasing the Union Territory before national and international filmmakers to attract investment, generate employment and boost tourism.
Replying to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Dr. L. Murugan said film shooting permissions across the country, including Jammu and Kashmir, are being facilitated through the India Cine Hub (ICH), a single-window digital portal managed by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).
The Minister said the portal showcases the filmic and non-filmic resources of all States and Union Territories, enabling filmmakers to explore shooting locations and related facilities through a unified digital platform. Applications seeking shooting permissions are processed online in coordination with the designated nodal officers of the respective States and Union Territories, including Jammu and Kashmir, making the approval process more streamlined and transparent.
He was responding to a question raised by Rajya Sabha MP Sat Paul Sharma, who sought to know whether the Government proposes to encourage the establishment of film production and post-production facilities in Jammu and Kashmir, the measures taken to facilitate shooting permissions through digital platforms such as India Cine Hub, and the initiatives undertaken to promote the region among national and international film producers.
Dr. Murugan said the National Film Development Corporation is also collaborating with State-level film festivals and other promotional platforms to showcase filming destinations, including Jammu and Kashmir, before domestic as well as international filmmakers. These outreach initiatives are aimed at increasing the visibility of the region as a filming destination and encouraging greater participation from the film industry.
The Minister said the Government’s efforts are intended to encourage film production and post-production activities while simultaneously promoting tourism, employment generation and investment in Jammu and Kashmir. By simplifying the permission process and expanding promotional outreach, the Centre aims to position the Union Territory as a competitive destination for film projects and related creative industries.
The reply underlined that the India Cine Hub serves as a centralised digital mechanism for facilitating film shooting permissions across India while highlighting the unique cinematic landscapes and production potential of Jammu and Kashmir. It also noted that coordination between the NFDC and designated nodal officers ensures that applications are handled through an online system, reducing procedural hurdles for filmmakers.
According to the Minister, the combined approach of digital facilitation and promotional campaigns is expected to strengthen Jammu and Kashmir’s presence on the national and global filmmaking map, while supporting economic activity linked to the film sector through increased tourism, investment and employment opportunities.
