Self-declaration Certificates: Industry Stakeholders To Meet MIB On July 19

Given the recent industry reports, industry representatives will meet the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) on July 19. This comes after the court instructed MIB to conduct brainstorming sessions with stakeholders to create an implementable structure around the Self Declaration Certificate (SDC). While they were to present their proposals within three weeks, the case has been scheduled for another hearing by the Supreme Court on July 30.

A source privy to the development said, “Industry stakeholders will be meeting MIB on July 19 to discuss the issue around SDC. Multiple suggestions and recommendations are expected during the meeting. We expect that MIB will consider the same while filing the affidavit in the court.”

“We are very clear about our suggestions from which one of the major issues revolves around the SDC portal which needs to be revamped and made more efficient.”

Following the SC's order, the Ministry last month added functionalities to the Press Council of India (PCI) site for print and digital/internet advertisements and to the Broadcast Seva site (BSP) for TV and radio advertisements. BSP has more than 9,000 SDCs, and PCI has more than 76,000 SDCs on its platform.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) was ordered by the Supreme Court to provide an affidavit with suggestions on the ‘self-declaration certificate’ (SDC) method for ads within three weeks. On July 9, 2024, a bench made up of Justices Hima Kohli and Sandeep Mehta issued the directive.

The Indian Society of Advertisers (ISA), the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI), the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), and the Association of Radio Operators were among the industry bodies whose intervention applications were being heard by the court.