Overview
- The Delhi government formally notified the Standard Operating Procedure on Monday, August 17, 2026, replacing separate departmental NOCs with a single-window, fully online licence process for cinema halls and multiplexes.
- Licensing will run end-to-end on the e-District Delhi portal so applicants file once, pay fees online, and receive the licence in Form B through the portal.
- Two district bodies will lead the process: a District Inspection Committee will do joint, e-signed and geotagged inspections and upload one verification report, and a District Licensing Committee chaired by the Deputy Commissioner will make the final decision.
- The SOP sets strict time limits—seven working days for initial scrutiny, 45 days for inspection, and 30 days for the DLC decision—and includes an automatic licence generation if the DLC misses its deadline and the inspection report shows full statutory and safety compliance.
- The government says safety checks remain compulsory with annual and surprise inspections plus two mock drills a year; operators and mall owners may see faster screen openings but any economic gains are projected rather than yet proven, and officials note the SOP was finalised in 2015 but not implemented earlier.