NEW DELHI: Despite assurances to this effect by almost every Information and Broadcasting Minister over the past decade, there are no plans at present to create a single window clearance mechanism for foreign filmmakers wanting to shoot in India.

However, the I&B Ministry says it will clear any proposal received by it within three weeks.

The Ministry cites shortage of manpower as the reason for its decision not to set up a single window clearance.

Ministry sources also said that as against five or six filmmakers per year, there were over 20 filmmakers from overseas who shot films in India last year.

Filmmakers from overseas are often made to approach different departments like municipal authorities, Archaeological Survey of India, railway authorities, tax exemption authorities and state governments for clearance of their films, in addition to security clearance by the Home and Defence Ministries. Many foreign filmmakers have in the past opined that they would save time if this could be done through a single window clearance, even if they have to pay for this.