December 5th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. ASCI guidelines on online gaming and fantasy sports
2. Jal Jeevan Mission

1. ASCI guidelines on online gaming and fantasy sports

Context

• The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) has issued an advisory asking all private television broadcasters to follow guidelines issued by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) for advertisements relating to online gaming, fantasy sports etc.
• The Ministry has advised that the advertisements should not promote any activity prohibited by statute or law.

The need for Guidelines

• The Ministry of I&B felt that a large number of advertisements on Online Gaming, Fantasy Sports, etc have been appearing on the television.
• Concerns were expressed that such advertisements appear to be misleading, do not correctly convey to the customers the financial and other risks associated thereof, are not in strict conformity with the Advertising Code laid down under Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
• The advisory therefore has been issued to “protect consumers’ interest”.

ASCI guidelines

• Print ads on online games and fantasy sports are required to carry a disclaimer that says “playing these games may involve financial risk and can be addictive”.
• The disclaimer should not occupy less than 20% of the space of the entire print ad.
• Audio-visual and audio ads must also run a disclaimer.
• The disclaimer should be placed after the ads and must be in the same language as the advertisement.
• The guidelines state that no gaming advertisement may depict any person under the age of 18 years engaged in playing online games and winning real money or even suggest that such a person can even play these games.
  • The guidelines also say that any person who even appears to be under the age of 18 should not be depicted in such ads.
• The advertisements should also not depict winning in online games as an income opportunity or an alternate employment option.
• The advertisements should also not suggest that the person winning money through online games is in any way more successful than others.

Advertising Standards Council of India

• The Advertising Standards Council of India, established in 1985, is a Mumbai based self-regulatory voluntary organization of the advertising industry in India.
• It seeks to ensure that advertisements conform to its Code for Self-Regulation.
• Under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 it is mandatory for television networks to follow the advertising code laid down by ASCI.

Click on the link to know more about Censorship and Indian Law for UPSC Notes.

2. Jal Jeevan Mission

Context

• A team from the National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM) would be visiting Andhra Pradesh to provide technical assistance to the State to realize the goal of ‘Har Ghar Jal’ under the flagship programme, Jal Jeevan Mission as well as identify different issues and challenges and to document good practices.

Jal Jeevan Mission

• It is a flagship program of the Union Government which aims to provide all rural households potable water in adequate quantity & of prescribed quality on a regular and long-term basis.
• Union Government and State Governments are working hand in hand to accomplish this ambitious goal of provision of assured potable water in rural homes.

Read more on the Jal Jeevan Mission in the linked article.

Read previous PIB here.

December 5th, 2020, PIB:- Download PDF Here