21st December, 2017
India relaxed a ban on the broadcasting of condom advertisements on TV during daytime on Thursday.
In an advisory earlier this month, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry asked all TV channels in India not to air condom advertisements between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. local time to avoid exposure of such material to children.
In a clarification, the ministry said the ban on condom advertisements during daytime applies only to commercials which have sexually explicit content.
“Advertisements that 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,” the ministry said.
The relaxation came after a high court in the western Indian state of Rajasthan issued notices to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and the Health Ministry regarding the Dec. 11 order on ban on condom advertisements during the daytime.
While imposing the ban, the ministry said the condom advertisements should only be aired late night till early morning, and warned of action against any TV channel found flouting it, in the wake of a plea by the Advertising Standards Council of India.