Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986
Introduction
Women’s organisations have agitated over the last decade with regard to how their gender is being portrayed by the
media. But such campaigns have little impact on advertisements promoting sexist stereotypes and pornographic
images which have increased if anything. Keeping the Indian social structure as in mind, the law aims to regulate
women’s portrayals in the different sections of Indian mass media today. In dealing with society as diverse from a
cultural point of view, the feelings of the community must be given special attention and the State must also be
protected. Morality remains a very subjective issue in India and reflects a wide range of culturally and
historically-changing values and attitudes.
It can be understood from the impacts illustrated in various media that this kind of disgraceful portrayal of women
leads to a societal environment deterioration in the form of ever-greater crime and abuse against the individual. To
put an end to this crime, the Central Government enacted the law — Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition)
Act — which prohibits the obscene and indecent representation of women and penalises them for committing such
offences.
➔ The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act is an Act “to prohibit indecent representation of
women through advertisements or in publications, writings, paintings, figures or in any other manner and for
matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.”
➔ The Act extends to the whole of India, except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. It shall come into force on such
date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
Important Definitions
➔ "indecent representation of women" means the depiction in any manner of the figure of a woman, her form or
body or any part thereof in such a way as to have the effect of being indecent, or derogatory to, or denigrating,
women, or is likely to deprave, corrupt or injure the public morality or morals.
➔ "advertisement" includes any notice, circular, label, wrapper or other document and also includes any visible
representation made by means of any light, sound, smoke or gas.
➔ "label" means any written, marked, stamped, printed or graphic matter, affixed to, or appearing upon, any
package.
➔ "distribution" includes distribution by way of samples whether free or otherwise.
➔ "package" includes a box, carton, tin or other container.
Introduction
Women’s organisations have agitated over the last decade with regard to how their gender is being portrayed by the
media. But such campaigns have little impact on advertisements promoting sexist stereotypes and pornographic
images which have increased if anything. Keeping the Indian social structure as in mind, the law aims to regulate
women’s portrayals in the different sections of Indian mass media today. In dealing with society as diverse from a
cultural point of view, the feelings of the community must be given special attention and the State must also be
protected. Morality remains a very subjective issue in India and reflects a wide range of culturally and
historically-changing values and attitudes.
It can be understood from the impacts illustrated in various media that this kind of disgraceful portrayal of women
leads to a societal environment deterioration in the form of ever-greater crime and abuse against the individual. To
put an end to this crime, the Central Government enacted the law — Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition)
Act — which prohibits the obscene and indecent representation of women and penalises them for committing such
offences.
➔ The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act is an Act “to prohibit indecent representation of
women through advertisements or in publications, writings, paintings, figures or in any other manner and for
matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.”
➔ The Act extends to the whole of India, except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. It shall come into force on such
date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
Important Definitions
➔ "indecent representation of women" means the depiction in any manner of the figure of a woman, her form or
body or any part thereof in such a way as to have the effect of being indecent, or derogatory to, or denigrating,
women, or is likely to deprave, corrupt or injure the public morality or morals.
➔ "advertisement" includes any notice, circular, label, wrapper or other document and also includes any visible
representation made by means of any light, sound, smoke or gas.
➔ "label" means any written, marked, stamped, printed or graphic matter, affixed to, or appearing upon, any
package.
➔ "distribution" includes distribution by way of samples whether free or otherwise.
➔ "package" includes a box, carton, tin or other container.
