**Executive Summary**
This report outlines the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) requirements for the 2026 General Elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and various bye-elections. It mandates the pre-certification of all political advertisements on electronic and social media by the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC). Key deadlines include disclosing social media accounts during nomination filing and submitting election expenditure statements within 75 days of the election's completion.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Advertisement Pre-Certification Requirements**
* All registered political parties, candidates, and organizations must obtain pre-certification from the MCMC before publishing political advertisements on electronic media.
* Regulated media includes TV, radio, social media, internet websites, e-papers, and bulk SMS/voice messages.
* Candidates and individuals must apply to the District MCMC, while State-headquartered parties apply to the State Level MCMC.
* An Appellate Committee, headed by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), is established to handle appeals against MCMC decisions.
**Candidate and Party Transparency**
* Candidates are required to disclose all authentic social media account details in their affidavits at the time of filing nominations.
* Political parties must submit a detailed statement of expenditure for internet and social media campaigning to the ECI within 75 days of the assembly elections' completion.
* Reportable expenditure includes payments to internet companies, content development costs, and operational expenses for maintaining social media accounts.
**Monitoring and Enforcement**
* MCMCs are tasked with maintaining a strict vigil on "paid news" in the media and taking suitable action when detected.
* The ECI, state police, and IT nodal officers are collaborating with Social Media Platforms (SMPs) to address misinformation, disinformation, and fake news.
* A sensitisation meeting was held on March 19, 2026, to ensure timely action against reported instances of false information.
**Impact Analysis**
**Registered Political Parties and Candidates**
**Impact**
They are prohibited from releasing any electronic or internet-based advertisements without prior official approval and face increased financial reporting obligations.
**Action Required**
Must submit advertisements for MCMC certification within specified timelines, disclose social media handles in affidavits, and file expenditure reports within 75 days post-election.
**Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC)**
**Impact**
The committee is granted the authority to vet all digital political content and becomes the primary body for monitoring media integrity.
**Action Required**
Must process certification applications and maintain a strict watch for cases of paid news and misinformation.
**Social Media Platforms (SMPs)**
**Impact**
These platforms are under increased scrutiny to ensure their services are not used for uncertified political advertising or the spread of fake news.
**Action Required**
Must cooperate with ECI Nodal Officers to take timely action against misinformation, disinformation, and reported fake news.
Key Entities Referenced
Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC): The primary body responsible for the mandatory pre-certification of political advertisements on electronic and social media and for monitoring cases of paid news.
Election Commission of India (ECI): The central regulatory authority that issued the orders requiring candidates and political parties to certify advertisements and disclose social media accounts.
Representation of the People Act, 1951: The governing legislation, specifically Section 77(1), which mandates that political parties submit statements of expenditure for internet and social media campaigning.
Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal: The specific states and Union Territory where the General Election schedule and these advertisement certification rules are applicable.
Appellate Committee: A committee headed by the Chief Electoral Officer constituted at the State level to hear appeals against the decisions made by the MCMC.
Election Commission
Political Parties to get advertisements pre-
certified by MCMC
Candidates to share details of their authentic social media
accounts
Posted On: 20 MAR 2026 2:32PM by PIB Delhi
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 andensure timely action against reported instances of misinformation, disinformation and fake-
news during elections.
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PK/GDH/RP
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