The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has flagged 233 health-related advertisements for potentially violating the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954. These cases have been formally escalated to the Ministry of AYUSH, marking a significant regulatory step toward curbing misleading health claims.

Key highlights

Violation of Drug Advertising Laws

• ASCI flagged 233 ads under the DMR Act for promoting magical or guaranteed cures.

• Most of these ads appeared online, especially in the wellness and Ayurveda categories.

Dominance of digital violations

• 94.8% of the scrutinised ads were on digital platforms.

• 68% were sponsored content or influencer posts on social media.

Healthcare among top offenders

• Healthcare ranked highest with 370 total ads investigated.

• 56% of these were found misleading due to exaggerated or dishonest claims.

Escalation beyond self-regulation

• ASCI escalated a total of 3,347 ads to government regulators, up from 2,707 in 2023–24.

• DMR Act-related ads are a priority due to the direct risks they pose to patient safety.

Positive industry trends

• 59% of the flagged ads were promptly withdrawn or corrected by advertisers.

• ASCI also reported a 46% reduction in complaint resolution time, indicating growing cooperation.

The crackdown highlights a crucial shift from self-regulation to legal enforcement in health advertising. ASCI’s escalation to the Ministry of AYUSH sends a clear message to pharma and wellness brands: misleading claims won’t go unchecked. As scrutiny intensifies, ethical advertising backed by science will be the only safe path forward.