EDITED: Dabur, Volkswagen & Bennett Coleman ads amongst 233 upheld by ASCI in Sept 17

In September 2017, ASCI’s Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) upheld complaints against 232 out of 305 advertisements. Out of 232 advertisements against which complaints were upheld, 62 belonged to the Healthcare category, 151 to the Education category, followed by seven in the Food & Beverages category, four in the Personal Care category and eight advertisements from 'Other' categories.
The CCC found claims of 49 advertisements in health care products or services to be either misleading or false or not adequately / scientifically substantiated and hence violating ASCI’s Code. Some of the health care products or services advertisements also contravened provisions of the Drugs & Magic Remedies Act (DMR Act), Drugs and Cosmetics Rules (D&C Rules.)

ASCI processed complaints against advertisements from the general public, industry as well as from the Department of Consumer Affairs’ Grievances Against Misleading Advertisements (GAMA) Portal. Out of 92 advertisements, complaints against 28 advertisements were upheld. Of these 13 advertisements against Healthcare, two belonged to the Education category, one belonged to the Personal category, four belonged to Food & Beverage category and eight belonged to the ‘others’ category.

Big brands like Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd., Dabur, Volkswagen, Zee Labs Ltd, Godrej and other top educational institutes were also found guilty of misrepresenting or exaggerating facts about some of their products.
The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) is a self-regulatory organization for the advertising industry to promote, maintain, monitor and uphold fair, sound, ethical and healthy principles and practices of advertising for the protection of interest of consumers and the general public. Established in 1985, ASCI’s role has been acclaimed by various government agencies.