News for 'Advertising Standards Authority'

Obesity Drug Can't Be Advertised Anymore

Obesity Drug Can't Be Advertised Anymore

Rediff.com12 Mar 2026

'Any promotional activity carried out under the pretext of disease awareness, influencer engagement, corporate campaigns, or similar activities that create brand recall/product visibility of the prescription shall also be treated as violations.'

Election Commission Suspends BDO Over Violence at West Bengal Poll Training

Election Commission Suspends BDO Over Violence at West Bengal Poll Training

Rediff.com31 Mar 2026

The Election Commission (EC) has suspended a Block Development Officer (BDO) in West Bengal's Nadia district and initiated departmental proceedings against him following violence at a poll training venue where a teacher was allegedly assaulted for objecting to a government advertisement.

Poor Credit Score May Cost You Jobs

Poor Credit Score May Cost You Jobs

Rediff.com1 days ago

Over the past three years, the appointments of 20 candidates selected through the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection were cancelled or offers were withdrawn due to poor credit history.

10-Minute Delivery Gone, Work Stays the Same

10-Minute Delivery Gone, Work Stays the Same

Rediff.com23 Jan 2026

'As long as apps show impossible delivery times, delivery and packaging workers will be pressured to meet unsafe, unhealthy standards.'

Bangladesh Telecast Ban Won't Hurt IPL

Bangladesh Telecast Ban Won't Hurt IPL

Rediff.com6 Jan 2026

According to experts, the ban will not result in revenue loss for the BCCI or the IPL broadcasters.

Where The Deadly Cough Syrup Was Made

Where The Deadly Cough Syrup Was Made

Rediff.com18 Oct 2025

Sandwiched between a Hero MotoCorp showroom and a shop that hires out cooking utensils is a small, dingy building that's been locked up. The non-descript two-room building is a manufacturing unit of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, the pharma company made its Coldriff cough syrup that has allegedly killed 25 children in Madhya Pradesh.

LS passes Bill to ban online money games, proposes 3-yr jail, Rs 1 cr fine

LS passes Bill to ban online money games, proposes 3-yr jail, Rs 1 cr fine

Rediff.com20 Aug 2025

The Indian government has introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha to ban online games played with money, aiming to curb addiction, money laundering, and financial fraud. The bill also targets advertisements and financial transactions related to such games.

'Online Real Money Games Are A Menace'

'Online Real Money Games Are A Menace'

Rediff.com21 Aug 2025

'There are cases of suicides, and middle-class families losing their entire family savings.'

Govt To Target Coaching Centres

Govt To Target Coaching Centres

Rediff.com23 Jun 2025

The panel will examine the reasons behind the emergence of dummy schools and their role in encouraging full-time coaching at the cost of formal schooling, and will suggest ways to mitigate the issue.

'Judges Don't Descend From Mars Or The Moon'

'Judges Don't Descend From Mars Or The Moon'

Rediff.com21 Aug 2025

'The quality of justice is directly linked to the quality of judges -- if that suffers, justice delivery suffers.'

It Starts With A Casual Bet And Then...

It Starts With A Casual Bet And Then...

Rediff.com4 Jul 2025

In 2025 alone, at least 50 suicides linked to online gambling losses have been reported across India. According to FIRs, the victims were addicted to betting, largely driven by cricket, rummy and poker.

Amazon fined for selling sub-standard pressure cookers

Amazon fined for selling sub-standard pressure cookers

Rediff.com4 Aug 2022

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of Rs 1 lakh on e-commerce major Amazon for selling pressure cookers that did not meet quality standards. The CCPA also directed Amazon to notify the consumers of all these 2,265 pressure cookers sold through its platform, recall the products and reimburse the prices to buyers, the Department of Consumer Affairs said in a statement.

Meet The New Influencers

Meet The New Influencers

Rediff.com1 Jan 2025

Across the board, brands use influencers like a Bhuvan Bam or Kusha Kapila as the second or third rung of their strategy. The first rung is always a celebrity that has been created outside the Internet, through mainstream media.

No remarks without expertise: HC orders influencer to remove Complan videos

No remarks without expertise: HC orders influencer to remove Complan videos

Rediff.com27 Sep 2024

The court said a social media influencer is expected not to try to play the role of a professional without any backing to substantiate what is being shared by them.

Probe ordered over deficiencies in services & e-2W of Ola Electric

Probe ordered over deficiencies in services & e-2W of Ola Electric

Rediff.com14 Nov 2024

Consumer rights regulator CCPA has ordered a detailed probe into complaints related to alleged "deficiencies" in services and electric two-wheelers manufactured by Ola Electric. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) headed by Nidhi Khare has directed the Director General (Investigation), who is also head of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), to investigate this matter.

Tesco to withdraw misleading ads

Tesco to withdraw misleading ads

Rediff.com21 Aug 2008

The Advertising Standards Authority yesterday ruled that the company has shown an 'unfair' comparison in the advertisements to claim that a selection of goods sold at its stores are cheaper than those of rival retailers Asda and Wm Morrison. ASA said that 'ads must not appear again in their current form,' as it found that 'both ads were likely to mislead.'

UK bans iPhone ad for over-hyping features

UK bans iPhone ad for over-hyping features

Rediff.com27 Aug 2008

The iconic touch screen handset iPhone, it seems, is not as smart as it claims, with the United Kingdom advertising watchdog on Wednesday banning a television ad for over-hyping its Internet capabilities and misleading the consumers.

'Oil' is not well with Patanjali Ayurved

'Oil' is not well with Patanjali Ayurved

Rediff.com2 May 2016

The advertisement is unnecessarily misleading the consumer and also derogatory and denigrating to the oil industry, SEA said

Why Sebi warned Ola Electric

Why Sebi warned Ola Electric

Rediff.com8 Jan 2025

Market regulator Sebi has warned Ola Electric Mobility for violating listing norms by sharing store expansion plans on social media before informing stock exchanges, according to a regulatory filing by the company. In a letter to the company by Sebi, shared on BSE by Ola Electric Mobility, the market regulator took exception to the dissemination of information regarding plans for a four-fold expansion of the company-owned store network by December 20, 2024.

Don't sell Ulips as investment products: Irdai to insurance companies

Don't sell Ulips as investment products: Irdai to insurance companies

Rediff.com24 Jun 2024

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has asked life insurance companies not to advertise unit-linked plans as investment products in a recent circular.

Maggi effect? Regulator to take up erring food, drinks ads

Maggi effect? Regulator to take up erring food, drinks ads

Rediff.com3 Jun 2015

The move follows an arrangement with the dept of consumer affairs.

Money laundering a big threat to online gaming and digital economy: Report

Money laundering a big threat to online gaming and digital economy: Report

Rediff.com24 Oct 2024

The fast-growing Indian online gaming sector is facing a significant threat from money laundering, necessitating urgent steps to ensure its sustained success and protect the country's robust digital economy, a report said on Thursday. The essential measures outlined in a report by the Digital India Foundation include forming a dedicated task force for illegal operators, creating a whitelist of legal operators, combating misleading advertisements, and incorporating principles of financial integrity and international cooperation.

Lab Or Natural? What Diamond Would You Prefer?

Lab Or Natural? What Diamond Would You Prefer?

Rediff.com12 Dec 2024

Suddenly, the legendary advertising line -- a diamond is forever -- is losing its shine.

7 in every 10 Indians likely to buy a product endorsed by an influencer

7 in every 10 Indians likely to buy a product endorsed by an influencer

Rediff.com17 Feb 2023

Showing the power social media influencers hold in the advertising industry today, the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) on Thursday said 70 per cent of Indians are likely to buy a product they endorse. In its "Influencer Trust Report," based on a survey of 820 respondents above 18, ASCI said that 79 per cent of respondents trust social media influencers. Out of these, thirty per cent trust the influencers "completely".

Patanjali comes under attack for 'misleading' mustard oil ads

Patanjali comes under attack for 'misleading' mustard oil ads

Rediff.com21 Apr 2016

Patanjali Ayurved spokesman said, "Our present commercial is based on facts and research."

Stop advertising Covid 'medicines', give details: Govt to Patanjali

Stop advertising Covid 'medicines', give details: Govt to Patanjali

Rediff.com24 Jun 2020

Ramdev's herbal medicine company Patanjali Ayurved has launched 'Coronil tablet and Swasari vati' medicines claiming they can cure the highly contagious disease within seven days.

What's Greenwashing?

What's Greenwashing?

Rediff.com21 Apr 2023

Greenwashing is making misleading or false environment-friendly claims about a product. Consumers in India currently do not have any way of telling whether a claim is authentic or greenwashing. And one never hears of action against any company for making false claims of being environment-friendly.

Why Brands Are Chasing Olympic Medalists

Why Brands Are Chasing Olympic Medalists

Rediff.com3 Aug 2024

'There's significant interest from both existing and new sponsors who recognise the value of associating with Olympic athletes.'

Encroaching on others' rights, HC tells Jains seeking ban on meat ads

Encroaching on others' rights, HC tells Jains seeking ban on meat ads

Rediff.com26 Sep 2022

The Bombay high court on Monday asked three Jain religious charitable trusts and a city resident practising Jainism why they were seeking to encroach on the rights of others by appealing for restrictions or ban on advertisements for meat and meat products in print and electronic media.

Election 2019 set to loosen advertising purse strings

Election 2019 set to loosen advertising purse strings

Rediff.com28 Dec 2018

GroupM said India would contribute $1.35 billion of incremental ad spends in 2019, emerging as the third largest contributor to global spends after China and the US.

Indians Are Saying NO To SUGAR!

Indians Are Saying NO To SUGAR!

Rediff.com9 May 2024

With rising incomes, education, and health awareness in India, especially in the big cities, droves of people are saying no to sugar.

Alternative medicine ads come under ASCI-Ayush lens

Alternative medicine ads come under ASCI-Ayush lens

Rediff.com15 Mar 2017

ASCI and Ayush ministry get down to monitoring print and television ads of ayurvedic, unani, homeopathic and yoga and naturopathy practitioners.

15% Protein Powders Are Of Poor Quality

15% Protein Powders Are Of Poor Quality

Rediff.com12 Jan 2023

Health experts express concern about the unsupervised consumption of dietary supplements, warning poor-quality products can affect cardiovascular health and kidneys.

Cable TV ads to come under ASCI

Cable TV ads to come under ASCI

Rediff.com21 Jul 2005

K'taka polls: EC warns parties against uncertified ads during silence period

K'taka polls: EC warns parties against uncertified ads during silence period

Rediff.com7 May 2023

In the advisory to political parties, the poll authority also emphasised on "clean and serious" campaign as electioneering reached feverish pitch in the southern state.

Wings clipped, ad body looks at a 'co-regulating' role with govt

Wings clipped, ad body looks at a 'co-regulating' role with govt

Rediff.com2 Sep 2020

Newly formed CCPA will now regulate false and misleading advertising and also take action to punish offenders, whether through fines, discontinuance, alteration of the ad, or even jail. ASCI as a voluntary, self-regulatory body, had no legal powers to enforce its actions.

EC notice to K'taka Cong on 'rate card' ads against BJP

EC notice to K'taka Cong on 'rate card' ads against BJP

Rediff.com6 May 2023

"It is a fair assumption that INC possesses the material/empirical/verifiable evidence based on which these specific/explicit 'facts' have been published, an action which can fairly be assessed to embed knowledge, motive and intent to do so by the author," the EC notice read.

Govt to frame guidelines to rein in ad sector

Govt to frame guidelines to rein in ad sector

Rediff.com17 Feb 2010

The government is in the process of finalising guidelines which have been drafted to deter the advertising industry from making unsubstantiated and misleading claims about their products.The guidelines are based on the recommendations of the committee set up by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to investigate claims made by Hindustan Unilever Ltd about 'Kissan Amaze'.

Is Modi Nervous About 2024 Result?

Is Modi Nervous About 2024 Result?

Rediff.com9 Feb 2024

Why did Modi single out the Congress and its leaders for the most pugnacious verbal assault while sparing other regional adversaries? If he is trying to get some parties to break the Opposition ranks, it means that the BJP's present bravado is for effect. Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, author of Narendra Modi: The Man, The Times, begins a new column for Rediff.com.

Why only Maggi, authority must tighten noose around other brands too

Why only Maggi, authority must tighten noose around other brands too

Rediff.com8 Jun 2015

Apart from Maggi noodles, many other products can be tested for health issues.