India's Election Commission mandates pre-certification of political advertisements
Change
India's Election Commission ordered that all political advertisements across television, radio, public display systems, e‑papers, bulk messaging services and social media receive prior clearance from Media Certification and Monitoring Committees (MCMC) — committees that review and clear political ads at district and state levels — and required candidates to disclose their official social media accounts in nomination affidavits.
Why it matters
Campaign finance and compliance teams must prepare auditable records of digital spending because parties and candidates must submit detailed accounts of election-related digital expenditure within 75 days of the polls closing. Disputes over ad certification will be handled via an appellate mechanism under each state's Chief Electoral Officer while MCMCs increase enforcement against paid news, adding an administrative review layer to campaign operations.
Implications
- • Political parties' digital campaign teams must obtain MCMC clearance before publishing or scheduling any political advertisement on electronic media or social platforms — ads without clearance cannot be legally released.
- • Candidates' nomination filing teams must list every official social media account in nomination affidavits or risk non-compliance with electoral filing requirements.
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