- All political ads on social and electronic media must be pre-certified by MCMC.
- Candidates to declare official social media accounts while filing nominations.
- MCMC to monitor paid news and take necessary action.
- Parties must submit online campaign expenses within 75 days of elections.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 14th Oct: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed all political parties and candidates contesting in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections and bye-elections in six States and the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir to obtain pre-certification for their advertisements on electronic and social media platforms.
As per the ECI’s order dated October 9, 2025, every registered national and state political party, along with individual candidates, must apply to the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) for prior approval of any political advertisement before its publication or broadcast on electronic media, including social media websites.
District and State-level MCMCs have already been constituted to oversee the certification process and to ensure compliance with the Commission’s guidelines. The ECI has further prohibited the release of any political advertisement on internet-based platforms without obtaining prior certification from the designated committee.
In addition, MCMCs have been tasked with maintaining strict vigilance against paid news and taking appropriate action wherever such violations are detected.
Recognising the growing role of digital platforms in election campaigns, the ECI has also directed all candidates to submit details of their authentic social media accounts at the time of filing nominations. This move aims to curb misinformation and ensure accountability in the digital space.
Under Section 77(1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and as per the directives of the Supreme Court of India, political parties are required to submit a detailed statement of expenditure related to online campaigning — including payments made to internet companies, social media advertisements, content creation, and operational costs — to the ECI within 75 days of the completion of assembly elections.
