Offshore betting and real estate emerged as the most violative sectors in India’s advertising landscape during 2025-26, according to the Annual Complaints Report released by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) on Wednesday. ASCI said it reviewed 11,581 cases during the financial year, marking a 21 per cent rise over the previous year. The cases involved 9,841 advertisements, up 37 per cent year-on-year, with 98 per cent of the scrutinised advertisements requiring modifications. Offshore betting alone accounted for 6,933 violations, followed by realty with 643 cases, personal care with 576, food and beverages with 331, and products violating the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act with 274 cases.
The report highlighted that 97.3 per cent of the scrutinised advertisements appeared on digital platforms, with social media-sponsored content accounting for 82 per cent of these violations. Meta platforms alone contributed nearly 80 per cent of digital violations. ASCI also flagged influencer marketing as a major concern. Of the 1,609 influencer advertisements reviewed, 97.3 per cent required modification, while over 54 per cent promoted categories prohibited or restricted by law. Illegal betting emerged as the top violative influencer category.
ASCI Chairman Sudhanshu Vats said the findings reflected an advertising ecosystem driven by speed, digital amplification and exaggerated claims. CEO and Secretary General Manisha Kapoor said ASCI’s proactive monitoring system and coordination with government agencies were helping strengthen consumer protection in the digital space. In Kolkata, the findings may lead to tighter scrutiny of influencer promotions and online advertising campaigns in eastern India. The city has witnessed rapid growth in digital content creation, real estate promotions and nutraceutical advertising, sectors that have now come under increased regulatory attention following ASCI’s report.
