Quick Answer: Advisory issued: The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) has issued Advisory No. DM/30/2026-DM, dated 24 August 2026, directing OTT platforms to display a specific health warning during scenes depicting consumption or use of narcotic drugs. Mandated text: "Illicit Narcotics Destroy Health and Guarantees Imprisonment. Say No to Drugs." Applies to: Content published/released on or after 24 August 2026, issued under Part II of the Schedule to the Code of Ethics for OTT Platforms, Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
Media & Entertainment · IT Rules 2021 / NDPS Act · Published: 24 August 2026 · Reading time: 6 min · Reference: DM/30/2026-DM
What Exactly Has Changed?
OTT platforms already display disclaimers for smoking, alcohol and certain sensitive content under existing self-regulatory codes - this advisory extends that practice with a standardized, drug-specific warning.
As per Para 4 of the advisory - The warning must appear whenever a scene depicts consumption or abuse of narcotic drugs, rather than a single title-level disclaimer.
The advisory builds on MIB's earlier guidance of 26 November 2024 on content classification and disclaimers, reinforcing the Ministry's continuing focus on substance-abuse messaging in entertainment content. See the full text of the advisory here.
What Are the Exact Compliance Requirements?
- Mandatory text: "Illicit Narcotics Destroy Health and Guarantees Imprisonment. Say No to Drugs."
- Trigger: Any scene depicting consumption, use or abuse of narcotic drugs.
- Visibility standard: The warning must be clear, legible and prominent - font, color and size are left to the platform's discretion, provided it is easily readable.
- Duration: Displayed for a duration sufficient to ensure "effective visibility and communication" - no fixed number of seconds is prescribed, so platforms should apply a reasonable, defensible standard industry practice.
- Applicability window: Content published or released on or after 24 August 2026.
- Scope: All OTT platforms publishing online curated content, as defined under the IT Rules, 2021.
Who Should Act on This Advisory?
- OTT/streaming platforms (Indian and foreign operating in India)
- Content/legal and compliance teams responsible for classification, disclaimers and Digital Media Ethics Code adherence
- Self-Regulatory Bodies registered under the IT Rules, 2021 grievance framework
How Should OTT Platforms Implement the Warning, Step by Step?
- Audit your content library to flag all titles (existing and in the pipeline) containing scenes depicting consumption or use of narcotic drugs.
- Update your disclaimer/overlay toolkit to insert the exact mandated text as mentioned in the advisory. We recommend displaying it verbatim to avoid ambiguity in compliance evidencing.
- Define trigger points scene-by-scene (not just at title-start) for any content published on or after 24 August 2026.
- Set a legibility standard internally - minimum font size, contrast ratio and on-screen duration - and document the rationale so it can be shown as "effective visibility and communication" if questioned.
- Brief acquisition and dubbing/localization teams so licensed/imported content is also screened and tagged before publishing in India.
- Update your internal content classification SOP and Digital Media Ethics Code self-classification records to reference this advisory.
- Retain an audit trail - which titles carry the warning, at which timestamps - in case of a grievance or Ministry query.
- Monitor for further MIB clarification, since the advisory does not prescribe an exact duration or reporting format - platforms should track any follow-up circulars.
Compliance risk to watch: Because the advisory leaves duration and formatting to platform discretion, the biggest risk is inconsistent internal application, different content teams applying different standards. A written internal policy, applied uniformly, is the best defence in a grievance-redressal scenario.
What Are the Key Facts at a Glance?
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Advisory Reference | DM/30/2026-DM |
| Issuing Authority | Ministry of Information and Broadcasting |
| Date | 24 August 2026 |
| Applies From | Content published/released on or after 24 August 2026 |
| Governing Framework | IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 |
Where Can You Read the Official MIB Advisory?
This note is prepared with reference to the original government notification. Professionals are advised to read the primary source before initiating compliance action: Read the Official MIB Advisory (DM/30/2026-DM)
Frequently Asked Questions
What exact warning text must OTT platforms display?
'Illicit Narcotics Destroy Health and Guarantees Imprisonment. Say No to Drugs.' - We recommend displaying it verbatim to avoid ambiguity in compliance evidencing.
Does this apply to content already published before the advisory?
As per Para 6 of the advisory, it applies to content published or released on or after 24 August 2026; however, platforms should still assess whether to proactively apply it to existing high-visibility titles as good practice.
Is there a fixed duration for how long the warning must be shown?
No fixed duration is prescribed - the advisory requires display for a duration sufficient to ensure 'effective visibility and communication,' leaving platforms to set a reasonable, defensible internal standard.
Which platforms does this advisory cover?
All OTT platforms publishing online curated content as defined under the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
How Can Regulatory Change Management Software Keep OTT Platforms Ahead of Advisories Like This?
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Legal Disclaimer: This note is prepared for general awareness and is not legal advice. For entity-specific applicability, consult your compliance officer or write to LexComply's advisory desk.