In preparation for the upcoming Assembly elections in states including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, and Puducherry, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a directive prohibiting the publication of political advertisements in newspapers on the day of polling and the day before, unless they have been pre-certified by the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC). Candidates and political parties must apply for this certification with the District MCMC or State-level MCMC, depending on their headquarters. Applications for pre-certification must be submitted at least two days prior to the intended publication date. The ECI has activated MCMCs at both state and district levels to expedite the certification process and ensure compliance. Additionally, the MCMCs will monitor for instances of paid news in the media.