Approval from Media Certification and Monitoring Committee, Required for Political Advertisements

25 October 2024

Mumbai, 25th : All political parties, candidates, and individuals must obtain prior approval from the State-level Media Certification and Monitoring Committee before using or broadcasting political advertisements. Dr. Kiran Kulkarni, Additional Chief Electoral Officer, heads this committee, as informed by the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer.

These advertisements include broadcasts on television channels, cable networks, cable channels, movie theaters, radio, private FM, audio-visual displays in public places, advertisements published in e-newspapers, bulk SMS, and voice messages. For advertisements published in print media on the day prior to voting and on the day of voting, prior approval from the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee is also required.

To facilitate pre-certification of advertisements, a District Media Certification and Monitoring Committee has been established at the district level, and a State Pre-Certification Committee at the state level. Individuals or election candidates intending to release advertisements on electronic media within their constituency must apply to the District-level Committee for certification.

Similarly, all registered political parties and organizasations must apply to the State-level committee for pre-certification of advertisements. All political advertisements are certified according to the guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India. 

Political parties or candidates should refrain from broadcasting political advertisements without the approval of the District-level Media Certification and Monitoring Committee or the State-level Pre-Certification Committee. To date, the State-level Pre-Certification Committee has certified 169 advertisements.