The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has clarified that advertisements aimed at informing citizens regarding devices, products or medical interventions that promote safe sex and which do not sexually objectify women are not covered under time-restrictions for telecast. It also said there is no proposal under consideration to ban any other kind of commercials, which may promote promiscuity, on television.

Last month, the Ministry had issued an advisory to all TV channels stating that advertisements of condoms which are inappropriate for viewing by children should be telecast between 10 pm and 6 am.

Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Smriti Irani said the Ministry had received several complaints from the public against condom ads which were allegedly inappropriate for viewing by children which it had referred to the Advertising Standards Council of India. On ASCI’s suggestion, the Ministry had issued the advisory to television channels in December.

“However, it has been clarified to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that advertisements which do not sexually objectify women and are aimed at informing citizens regarding devices/products/medical interventions to ensure safe sex are not covered under the said advisory. It was also mentioned that advertisements on safe sex may be continued to be promoted without sexually objectifying women and/or without carrying sexually explicit content and without violating the Programme and Advertising Codes contained in Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994,” she added.

Replying to a query on whether the government is considering to ban other kinds of commercials that promote promiscuity on television, Irani said, “At present, there is no such proposal.”

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