The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has issued a fresh advisory directing OTT platforms to display a warning message during scenes that depict the consumption or use of narcotic drugs. The advisory, dated August 24, 2026, is aimed at increasing public awareness about the harmful effects of drug abuse and promoting responsible viewing practices.

According to MIB, the abuse of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and other intoxicants poses a serious threat to public health, particularly among young people. It noted that drug abuse can have significant social, economic and behavioural consequences, making it important for digital entertainment platforms to contribute to awareness efforts.

The Ministry highlighted that OTT platforms have emerged as one of the most popular forms of entertainment and therefore play an important role in educating viewers about the dangers associated with drug use. In line with this objective, OTT platforms have been advised to display the following warning during scenes depicting the use or consumption of narcotic drugs.

The advisory states that the warning —- ‘Ilicit Narcotics Destroy Health and Guarantees Imprisonment. Say No to Drugs’ —- should be displayed in a clear, legible and prominent manner.

OTT platforms have been asked to ensure that the font, colour and size of the message should make it easily readable for viewers.

The warning should also remain visible on screen for a sufficient duration to ensure effective communication.The Ministry referred to the Code of Ethics for OTT platforms under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. Under these rules, publishers of online curated content are required not to publish or exhibit content that is prohibited under any law or barred by a competent court. The Code of Ethics also contains guidelines relating to the depiction of psychotropic substances in digital content.

The latest direction is a continuation of an earlier advisory issued by the Ministry on November 26, 2024. In that advisory, OTT platforms were urged to exercise due diligence while depicting narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in their content. They were also advised to comply with the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 and ensure appropriate content classification, warnings and disclaimers wherever drug use is shown.

The Ministry had additionally encouraged platforms to include public health messages and educational disclaimers highlighting the dangers of drug abuse. The new advisory further strengthens that effort by recommending a standard warning message during scenes involving narcotics consumption.

MIB has requested all OTT platforms to implement the advisory for content published or released on their platforms on or after August 24, 2026. The Ministry said the measure is intended to support broader public awareness campaigns against drug abuse and encourage responsible social messaging through digital entertainment content.

The advisory has also been shared with self-regulatory bodies of OTT platforms operating under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 for necessary action and compliance.