ASCI flags 6,933 ad violations in FY26 as wellness brands, offshore betting apps dodge India's rules

Council's FY26 report shows violations surging from 1,336 in FY24 to 6,933, with 854 influencers flagged and 93% caught via proactive detection. Wellness, personal care and offshore betting categories drive the spike, exposing enforcement gaps for consumer brands.

— Source publishedThu, 28 May, 2026, 05:45 IST·First seen Thu, 28 May, 2026, 05:57 IST·Source Mint · Industry

What happened

ASCI's FY26 report flags surge in misleading ads across wellness, personal care and offshore betting categories, with violations rising to 6,933. Influencer-led

Key facts

  • 1,336 violations FY24
  • 6,933 violations FY26
  • 854 influencers flagged
  • 93% proactive detections

Why this matters

Diligence on wellness and personal-care acquisition targets must now stress-test ad-claim substantiation and influencer contracts, as ASCI's escalating detection rate materially raises post-close regulatory and reputational liability.