1. Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for the General Election to Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal and bye-elections in 6 states on March 15,2026.
2. ECI has issued orders requiring any registered political party or any group of organization/association or any contesting candidate/individual to apply to the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) for pre-certification of all political advertisements on electronic media (such as TV, Radio, AV displays at public places, e-papers, bulk SMS/voice messages) including social media before publication.
3. Individuals or contesting candidates can apply for certification of advertisements with District MCMC. All registered political parties headquartered in a State/UT can apply for certification of such advertisements with the State Level MCMC. The applications must be submitted within the specified timelines. An Appellate Committee headed by the CEO is also constituted at the State level to entertain appeals against the decisions of District/State MCMC.
4. No political advertisements are to be released to any internet-based media/websites, including social media websites, by political parties/ candidates without pre-certification from the respective MCMC.
5. MCMCs shall also keep a strict vigil on suspected cases of paid news in the media and take suitable action.
6. Further, candidates are required to share the details of their authentic social media accounts in their affidavit at the time of filing nomination.
7. According to Section 77(1) of Representation of the People Act, 1951 and the directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, political parties should also submit a statement of expenditure incurred on campaigning through internet including social media websites to the ECI within 75 days of the completion of the assembly elections.
8. Such expenditure, among other things, shall include payments made to internet companies and websites for carrying advertisements and campaign related expenditure on development of content and operational expenditure incurred to maintain their social media accounts.
9. In this regard, a meeting was held with the CEOs, State Police Nodal Officers, State IT Nodal Officers of all poll-bound States/UT and the representatives of Social Media Platforms (SMPs) on March 19, 2026 to sensitise them about the above provisions and to check and ensure timely action against reported instances of misinformation, disinformation and fake-news during elections.

**********

PK/GDH/RP