📣 CCPA 2022 & ASCI Statutory Standards
Advertising & Commercial Promotion Policy
Last Updated: September 5, 2026 | Effective Date: September 5, 2026
Core Objective: PushCartSiren enables local retail stores, bakeries, service providers, and grocers to broadcast verified commercial offers to residential households within a 1–2 km radius. This policy outlines mandatory legal standards ensuring honest, truthful, and lawful promotional content.
1. Statutory Regulatory Framework
All advertisements published, broadcast, or displayed on the PushCartSiren platform must strictly comply with the following Indian Central and State Government legislations:
- The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements, 2022.
- The Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023 issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority.
- The Code for Self-Regulation in Advertising established by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI).
- The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COTPA).
- The Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 and Rules 1955.
- The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSSAI) and FSSAI (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018.
- Applicable State Municipal Corporation Advertisement By-Laws (including Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act, Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, and Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act).
2. Strictly Prohibited Advertisement Categories
The following categories of advertisements, products, and services are absolutely banned on PushCartSiren with zero exceptions:
- Tobacco & Nicotine: Cigarettes, bidis, gutkha, pan masala, hookah, electronic cigarettes, vapes, and all forms of direct or indirect surrogate advertising.
- Alcohol & Spirits: Beer, wine, liquor, and surrogate branding using sodas, mineral water, or merchandise.
- Gambling & Betting: Online casinos, sports betting, real-money gaming, lottery schemes, and prize competitions violating the Public Gambling Act, 1867 or state enactments.
- Unlicensed Financial Schemes: Chit funds not registered under the Chit Funds Act, 1982, multi-level marketing (MLM), pyramid schemes, unregulated binary trading, and speculative cryptocurrency tokens.
- Magical Remedies & Miracle Cures: Advertisements claiming cures for 54 specified diseases under the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act, unverified health miracles, or sexual performance enhancers.
- Weapons & Fireworks: Firearms, ammunition, unlicensed fireworks, and explosive substances.
- Counterfeit or Stolen Goods: Infringing replica branded items or unauthorized merchandise.
3. Mandatory Disclosures & Anti-Dark Pattern Rules
Every paid commercial announcement delivered to residential households must adhere to the following display requirements:
- Clear "SPONSORED" / "LOCAL STORE AD" Label: In compliance with Guideline 4 of CCPA 2022, all promotional campaigns must feature a prominent, unambiguous visual tag distinguishing them from organic pushcart vendor sirens.
- Truth in Pricing: Prices announced in ads must reflect the actual final payable cost inclusive of applicable GST. Bait pricing, drip pricing, disguised costs, and false urgency countdowns are strictly banned under CCPA Dark Patterns Guidelines 2023.
- Advertiser Identification: Every ad must accurately display the legal business name and verifiable physical location or phone number of the sponsor.
4. Food & Perishable Products Compliance
Advertisers promoting packaged or prepared food items must hold a valid FSSAI Registration or License number. Claims regarding organic, 100% pure, diabetic-friendly, or medicinal food benefits must be substantiable with accredited laboratory test certificates on demand.
5. Municipal Corporation Compliance
In accordance with State Municipal Corporation Acts and local urban governance directives, hyperlocal digital promotions must not promote illegal sidewalk encroachments, non-vending zone operations, or unauthorized public nuisance.
6. Campaign Review & Immediate Takedown
PushCartSiren employs automated pre-screening and active human moderation. Any advertisement found in violation of this Policy, ASCI norms, or statutory consumer laws will be terminated immediately within 4 hours without refund, and repeat violators will face permanent business account revocation and reporting to the Central Consumer Protection Authority.
6.1 The 100% Reach Fulfillment Guarantee (Pay-For-Delivered-Reach)
Under CCPA 2022 and fair commercial practice standards, PushCartSiren operates on a strict Pay-Per-Verified-Household-Reach model (₹0.30/screen). Advertisers purchase verified household deliveries, not transient time:
- Automatic Campaign Extension: If a campaign of 2,000 households has only reached 1,400 households within the initial 14 or 30-day term, the campaign automatically extends on subsequent days at ₹0 additional fee until 100% of the contracted reach (2,000 homes) is fulfilled.
- Non-Expiring Wallet Rollover: For time-limited event or festival promotions that cannot be extended, all unspent funds (e.g., 600 unreached × ₹0.30 = ₹180) are credited to the advertiser's digital wallet without expiry, or refunded to their bank UPI on request.
- Interactive Advertiser Guarantee Deck: Advertisers and field agents can review live calculations and guarantees at pushcartsiren.com/advertiser_guarantee.html.
