MAM
Government stops teleshopping advertisements that violate ASCI code
MUMBAI: In a recent development, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) through an advisory has barred broadcasters from airing advertisements that have been found in violation of the Advertising Standards Council of India’s (ASCI) code.
MIB compiled a list of ads that made unsubstantiated claims and violated the provision of code for self-regulation as well as provisions under Drug & Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 and has now asked broadcasters to ensure strict compliance of the advertising code in the Cable Television Networks Act (CTN).
ASCI chairman Partha Rakshit said, “This is another feather in the cap of ASCI, in its efforts to make advertising more responsible. We were finding that some advertisers on TV channels, especially Tele Shopping Networks, were not complying with the ASCI decisions. We submitted the list to the Inter Ministerial Committee (IMC) of the MIB for their consideration. Based on that, IMC observed that any violation of ASCI code also violates the Advertising Code enshrined in the CTN Act and its rules. In short, IMC has directed that advertisements found to violate the ASCI code cannot be carried on TV channels.”
The advisory sent by MIB states that ‘non-compliance of ASCI’s code of self-regulation is a violation of rule 7 (9) of the Advertising Code contained in the CTN Rules. The CTN code and rules state that ‘no advertisement which violates the code of self-regulation in advertising, as adopted by ASCI for public exhibition in India, from time to time, shall be carried in the cable service’. Therefore, ASCI decisions are not just bound for compliance by advertisers but also by TV channels.’
Some of the products in the MIB’s Advisory list which violated the ASCI code in terms of their advertising and advertisers not complying with the ASCI’s decision to uphold the complaint are Fairpro (Telemart Shoppi Network), Ayurvedic Roopamri Fairness Cream (WWS SkYshoP P), Celebrity Lift (RTC Enterprises), GLO Intense Brightening System (B Lab), Rashi Ratan Topaz Ring (Quick Telemall Marketing), Maha Dhan Lakshmi Yantram Musli Power Xtra (Kunnath Pharmaceuticals), Brain Smart GTM (Teleshopping), Bhairavi Sadhana- Devishree Foundation Trust, Shaktivardhan Vaccume Therapy, Sandhi Sudha Oil (Telemart Shopping Network), MadhuSanjivani (JMD Teleshopping), Addiction Killer (SK Shopping), Easy Slim Tea , Maha Dhan Lakshmi Yantram etc.
Earlier this week, ASCI had issued stringent guidelines on advertisements for fairness creams, barring companies from depicting dark-skinned people as inferior to their fairer counterparts and not to depict them as unhappy, unattractive or depressed.
Brands
VinFast names Anurag Saxena deputy CEO to steer India growth
Former Honda executive to drive dealer expansion and EV market push
GURUGRAM: Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast has appointed Anurag Saxena as deputy CEO for its India operations, bringing in a seasoned automotive executive as the company prepares to deepen its footprint in one of the world’s fastest-growing electric mobility markets.
In his new role at VinFast India, Saxena will work closely with the leadership team to accelerate the company’s growth strategy, with a focus on dealer network expansion, market penetration and strengthening the brand’s presence across the country’s evolving EV ecosystem.
Saxena joins the Vietnamese EV manufacturer after a long stint with Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd., where he spent more than two decades in a variety of leadership roles. Most recently, he served as operating officer, overseeing core business functions and shaping strategic planning across the company’s two-wheeler portfolio.
During his tenure, Saxena led more than 135 teams across six divisions, including business development, product strategy, marketing, electrification, network expansion and sales digitisation. He also played a key role in steering Honda’s early EV roadmap in India, including the launch of its first EV concept store in Bengaluru and the rollout of a scalable electric retail network.
Earlier, as regional business head for North India, he drove strong growth across key markets including Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab. Under his leadership, the region achieved a 30 per cent rise in volumes over four years, while market share climbed from 21 per cent to 28 per cent.
His career at Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. also included leadership positions in central and western India, where he worked on dealer expansion, product planning and sales strategy. Notably, he helped design the ‘Hi-Rise’ dealer management system and introduced a pre-owned vehicle platform that expanded the company’s retail ecosystem.
Saxena began his career in export sales with Cosmo Ferrites Limited, where he handled international markets across the United States and Europe before moving into the automotive sector.
His appointment comes as VinFast accelerates its India plans, betting on the country’s rapidly expanding electric vehicle market and growing consumer appetite for sustainable mobility. With Saxena at the wheel, the company appears keen to combine global EV ambition with local market expertise.
