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Indian government proposes upto Rs 50 lakh fine and 5 years imprison for ads promoting skin fairness

The government has proposed to amend the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954. As per the draft bill prepared by the government, it could slap a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh and imprisonment up to five years for advertisements promoting pharmaceutical products for fairness of skin, deafness, improvement of height, hair loss or greying, obesity, among others. Under the new  draft of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) (Amendment) Bill, 2020 , a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh and up to two years’ imprisonment has been proposed in the case of the first offense. In the case of a subsequent conviction, imprisonment may extend to five years and the fine, up to Rs 50 lakh. In the current law, the first offense subjects to imprisonment up to six months, with or without a fine, and up to one year for a second-time conviction. The present law identifies ‘magic remedy’ in the form of a talisman, mantra, kavacha, and any other charm of