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UK television advertising standards code to be revised from Monday
LONDON: Television in the UK will have to adhere to a revised advertising standards code from 2 September.
The Independent Television Commission (ITC), which licenses and regulates commercially funded television services in country, announced the revisions today, after extensive consultations with broadcasters, advertisers and other interested parties. The code was last revised in 1998.
The ITC produces an industry code and operates backstop compliance procedures to prevent harm, offence and misleading effects of television advertising. According to the ITC, the revised code is organised more clearly, and provides guidance on underlying principles and the reasoning behind them.
ITC director of programmes and advertising Sarah Thane says that the commission’s aim has been to seek views on the current rules and to incorporate best practice and recent developments into the code. “The basic policies remain very much as they were, and as our research indicates viewers want them to be, but we have sought to put them into a more user-friendly format,” she adds.
The ITC requires licensees to ensure that broadcast advertisements are not in breach of the ITC’s code and rules. This duty is performed by the Broadcast Advertising Clearance Centre (BACC) on behalf of the ITV companies, Channel 4, Channel 5, BskyB and some other cable and satellite channels. Most of the BACC’s pre-vetting work is carried out directly with advertising agencies at script stage. According to the commission, ITC licensees and the BACC have already been notified. The ITC will offer industry seminars later this year to answer any questions relating to the code and the revisions, according to an official release.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
