I&B Ministry
Ad self-certification: Industry requests MIB to postpone implementation
Mumbai: For most in the media industry, 18 June appears to be a very ominous day. Four days from now, agencies and brands will have to ensure that every advertisement – whether created for print, internet, radio or for TV – is put through a process of self-certification with the portals https://new.broadcastingseva.gov.in or https://presscouncil.gov.in.
In fact, so stressed are they with the impending date that the Indian Society of Advertisers (ISA) has petitioned the ministry of information and broadcasting to postponed the self certification process as, citing issues such as delays in uploading to the portals..
In a letter to the MIB secretary Sanjay Jaju on 12 June, ISA chairman Sanjiv Kataria has expressed the industry’s support to the initiative, but has asked for deferment of the date until the supreme court hears their concerns about the latter’s order passed on 7 May 2024. The ministry has made it mandatory for advertisers/agencies to self certify ads, and for publisher/broadcasters s to ensure they collect the certificates before publishing or telecasting any ads from clients.
Kataria in his letter has pointed out to issues such as a lack of security for the uploads, lagging, slow uploads, challenges in OTP generation, file size limitation of 1 MB for every creatve, signing authority for each creative, duration of validity of the certification, whether every language version, social media message, tweet, reel, AFP, brand integration needs to be certified – among many other areas where there is a lack of clarity. Please see attachment with this story for the issues raised by the ISA.
Urgent Request to Postpone Implementation of Self-Declaration Process
Industry veterans have welcomed the move by the supreme court and the MIB to self certify ads and marketing communications. Says former ad executive and former CEO of Star India Peter Mukerjea: “The industry brought this on themselves by some advertisers making wild, inaccurate , insane, irresponsible claims about all kinds of stuff – agencies not following an ethical or moral standard, creatives making a mockery of features including sometimes potentially life threatening behaviour and chucking in celebs to popularise the messaging ! (Eg SRK driving a car like a nut case in and out of lanes and so on, not to mention Patanjali and any number of such ) . ASCI turned a blind eye and is almost irrelevant. Personally Im glad this speed breaker has been put in place to reawaken society to ‘responsible communication’ at multiple levels. Sadly they’ve left out ‘outdoor’ ! ( I’m sure it will get added ). Well done Honble SC. “
The ISA was awaiting the MIB’s response at the time of writing of this report.
I&B Ministry
India rolls out Rs 203 crore TDIP scheme to boost 6G push
Revised policy widens access for startups, boosts global telecom standards play
NEW DELHI: India is doubling down on its telecom ambitions with a revamped Technology Development and Investment Promotion scheme, designed to help the country move from participant to power player in global standards.
The Ministry of Communications on Tuesday unveiled revised guidelines for the TDIP scheme, committing Rs 203 crore for the 2026 to 2031 period. The move aims to strengthen India’s presence in international telecom forums while accelerating homegrown innovation in next-generation technologies, including 5G Advanced and 6G.
At the launch, Ministry of Communications union minister for communications and development of north eastern region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia said the updated framework is intended to give Indian players a stronger voice in shaping global telecom rules.
The scheme focuses heavily on increasing participation in key global bodies such as the International Telecommunication Union, 3GPP and oneM2M. Financial support will be provided for attending international meetings, submitting technical proposals, taking leadership roles, and even hosting global events in India.
The idea is straightforward. If India helps write the rules, its technologies stand a better chance of going global.
Beyond policy rooms and conference tables, the revised scheme casts a wider net across the ecosystem. Startups, MSMEs, academia and research institutions are now explicitly included, opening the door for broader collaboration and faster innovation cycles. Pilot projects, proof-of-concept initiatives and real-world demonstrations will also receive support, helping ideas move from lab to market.
Supporting the rollout will be institutions such as Telecommunications Standards Development Society India, Telecom Centres of Excellence India and Telecommunications Consultants India Limited. These bodies will coordinate efforts, build capacity and ensure industry participation aligns with global opportunities.
The initiative ties in with broader efforts by the Department of Telecommunications, including programmes like the Telecom Technology Development Fund and the Bharat 6G Mission, forming a more cohesive push towards future-ready networks.
Also present at the event were Ministry of Communications minister of state for communications and rural development Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani and Department of Telecommunications secretary (telecommunications) and chairman digital communications commission Amit Agrawal.
With this update, India is not just looking to keep pace with global telecom trends. It is aiming to help define them.
