The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for the General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Bihar and the bye-elections to 8 Assembly Constituencies of 6 States and the UT of Jammu & Kashmir on October 6, 2025. Effective October 9, 2025, ECI requires every registered/National and State Political Party and every contesting candidate to apply to the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) for pre-certification of all political advertisements on electronic media, including social media, before publication. MCMCs have been established at the District and State levels for this purpose. No political advertisements can be released on internet-based media/websites without pre-certification from the MCMC. MCMCs will monitor for suspected paid news. Candidates must share their authentic social media accounts at the time of filing nomination. Political parties must submit a statement of expenditure incurred on internet campaigning, including social media, to the ECI within 75 days of the assembly elections' completion. Expenditure includes payments to internet companies for advertisements and campaign-related expenditures. Release ID: 2178736, published on 14 OCT 2025 10:05AM by PIB Delhi.
Key Entities Referenced
Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC): Committee for pre-certification of all political advertisements on electronic media including social media before publication.
Election Commission of India (ECI): The primary authority issuing orders related to pre-certification of political advertisements and disclosure of social media accounts.
Representation of the People Act, 1951: Act that political parties are required to adhere to when submitting statements of expenditure.
Political Parties: Regulated entity required to get advertisements pre-certified and inform commission of social media accounts.
Election Commission
Political Parties to get advertisements pre-certified by
MCMC Candidates to inform Commission of their
authentic social media accounts
Posted On: 14 OCT 2025 10:05AM by PIB Delhi
1. The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for the General Election to the
Legislative Assembly of Bihar and the bye-elections to 8 Assembly Constituencies of 6 States and the
UT of Jammu & Kashmir on October 6, 2025.
2. ECI has issued orders on the October 9, 2025 requiring every registered/National and State Political
Party and every contesting candidate to apply to the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee
(MCMC) for pre-certification of all political advertisements on electronic media including social media
before publication.
3. MCMCs have been constituted at the District and State levels for pre-certification of political
advertisements as per the prescribed guidelines.
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, given the penetration of social media in the electoral landscape, candidates have also been
instructed to share the details of their authentic social media accounts 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 also campaign related expenditure on development of content and
operational expenditure incurred to maintain their social media accounts.
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PK/GDH/RP
(Release ID: 2178736)