Lok Sabha Question No. 254 (STARRED), answered on 2018-01-04
Subject: Advertisements Promoting Condoms
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: KIRRON KHER, KONAKALLA NARAYANA RAO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. 254 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04/01/2018

## ADVERTISEMENTS PROMOTING CONDOMS

## *254.  SHRIMATI KIRRON KHER: SHRI KONAKALLA NARAYANA RAO:

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  issued  an  advisory/order  to  TV  channels  not  to telecast advertisements promoting condoms between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b) the  compensatory  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  create  awareness regarding  protected  sex  as  these  advertisements  were  the  major  source  of awareness about condoms;
- (c) whether the  Government has noticed any  violation of the  instructions  issued  to television  channels  in  the  matter  during  the  recent  past  and  if  so,  the  details thereof along with the action taken by the Government in this regard;
- (d) whether the condom companies are likely to incur loss due to this ban and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  is  also  considering  to  ban  other  kind  of  commercials which promote  promiscuity on television and if so,  the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) to (e):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT AS REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 254 FOR ANSWER ON 04.01.2018

(a) & (b)     This Ministry received several complaints from the public against the condom advertisements which were allegedly indecent/ inappropriate for viewing by children. The complaints  were  referred  to  Advertising  Standards  Council  of  India  (ASCI)  which  is  a representative  body  of  advertisers  and  advertising  agencies.  ASCI  suggested  that Ministry of Information & Broadcasting may advise all TV Channels to ensure  that the condom  advertisements  are  aired  only  between  10:00  PM  to  6:00  AM  as  these advertisements are meant to be seen only by the adults.

Accordingly,  after  due  consideration,  this  Ministry  issued  an  Advisory  dated 11.12.2017  advising  all  TV  channels  that  advertisements  of  condoms  which  are  for  a particular  age  group  and  could  be  indecent/inappropriate  for  viewing  by  children  be telecast between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM to avoid exposure of such material to children and  to  ensure  strict  adherence  to  the  provisions  contained  in  the  Cable  Television Networks Rules, 1994. However, it has been clarified to M/o 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.

- (c) No such violation has been brought to the notice of the Ministry.
- (d) No such study has been done in this regard.
- (e) Presently there is no such proposal.

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