Sudhanshu Vats named as new chairman of ASCI

admin — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 01:51:00 +0000

Sudhanshu Vats, Managing Director of Pidilite Industries Limited. File | Photo: X/@Sudhanshu_Vats

Sudhanshu Vats, Managing Director, Pidilite Industries Limited, has been named the new chairman of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) at its 39th annual general meeting (AGM).

With ASCI, India’s self-regulatory body for advertising, completing 40 years in October, the appointment comes in a milestone year, ASCI said.

S. Subramanyeswar, of MullenLowe Global, has been named vice-chairman. Paritosh Joshi, Principal at Provocateur Advisory was named honorary treasurer.

“ASCI’s role has never been more important. As advertising evolves with new technologies and formats, our responsibility is to ensure it is executed with integrity — centered around the product promise, respectful of the community and mindful of consumers. In an environment where trust is easily shaken, self-regulation provides both guidance to the industry and assurance to the public,” Mr. Vats said in a statement.

“I look forward to working closely with advertisers, agencies, platforms and consumers to uphold high standards, encourage responsible creativity, and strengthen confidence in advertising. At the heart of this effort is a simple principle — always keep the consumer’s interest front and centre,” he said.

To mark its 40th year, ASCI also announced several key initiatives that it would take up over the next year.

Published – September 25, 2025 07:21 am IST

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ASCI’s new charity norms ask crowdsourcing platforms to disclose fees

admin — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 11:03:18 +0000

Representational image only.
| Photo Credit: Twitter/@ascionline

Crowdsourcing platforms will have to disclose fees charged by them while seeking donations for charitable causes henceforth, advertising industry’s self regulatory body Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) said on July 20.

In the guidelines for advertisements for charitable causes, the ASCI has also made it clear that graphic images of victims in distress, particularly children and minors, should not be used by advertisers.

“If a crowdsourcing platform collects a percentage or fee for managing or raising donor funds, it must be made clear what such amounts are in the advertisement itself,” the guidelines say.

It can be noted that there are crowdsourcing platforms such as Ketto which directly deduct 5% of the donations made for charitable causes by people.

The body said in recent years, charities have been active advertisers, especially on digital media, for seeking funds and crowdfunding. “The non-profits reach out to potential donors either through organic posts or sponsored ads,” it added.

“ASCI recognises that charities can have a challenging job explaining the nature of the important, and often sensitive work they do, and raise funds for beneficiaries in need. However, they must take care not to overstep the mark by misleading consumers or causing unjustified distress to those who may be merely surfing online,” its chief executive and secretary general Manisha Kapoor said.

The guidelines also make it clear that an advertisement shall not overtly or pointedly suggest that anyone who does not support the charity fails in their responsibility or should feel ashamed.

“In digital advertising, any image shown in the ad that could cause unjustified distress to an ordinary consumer, must be blurred and made visible only to those interested in clicking and knowing more,” the guidelines say.

Advertisers must also disclose if there are any chances of the funds collected being used for any other purposes if an appeal for donation is being made for a specific purpose, the body said, adding that ads must not mislead consumers.

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Advertising Standards Council of India – Artifex.News

Sudhanshu Vats named as new chairman of ASCI

ASCI’s new charity norms ask crowdsourcing platforms to disclose fees