The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has appointed Sudhanshu Vats, Managing Director of Pidilite Industries Ltd, as its new chairman at the 39th Annual General Meeting (AGM). The announcement comes as ASCI prepares to mark its 40th anniversary this October.
Joining Vats in leadership are S Subramanyeswar of MullenLowe Global as vice-chairman and Paritosh Joshi, Principal at Provocateur Advisory, as honorary treasurer.
Vats emphasized the growing significance of ASCI’s mission:
“ASCI’s role has never been more important. As advertising evolves with new technologies and formats, our responsibility is to ensure integrity – centered on product promise, respectful of communities, and mindful of consumers. In an age where trust is fragile, self-regulation offers guidance for the industry and assurance for the public.”
Outgoing chairman Partha Sinha reflected on ASCI’s evolution:
“We have moved from being a watchdog to becoming an enabler of responsible communication. We’ve stepped firmly into the digital space and expanded ASCI’s footprint, reinforcing that consumer trust is a pan-India language.”
40th Year Initiatives
To commemorate its milestone, ASCI announced several initiatives:
- AdWise Program: Media literacy for over 1M school students.
- Gen Alpha Research: Building a framework for advertising to the next generation.
- Regional Expansion: Strengthening presence in Bengaluru and Delhi.
- Comprehensive Codes Resource: In partnership with Khaitan & Co.
- Podcast Series: In collaboration with The Logical Indian and Marketing Minds.
Founded in 1985, ASCI has become the cornerstone of advertising self-regulation in India, achieving compliance rates of 98% (print), 97% (TV), and 81% (digital). Looking ahead, it plans to deepen global partnerships, enhance educational initiatives, and tackle emerging challenges in the digital-first era.
