What is false advertising?

Advertisements that contain representations that are

false, misleading, or deceptive are illegal under state
and federal laws. To be found guilty of false advertising,
it must be shown that the advertisement was deceptive
in nature. Proof that the ad actually harmed anyone is not
important.
Please refer his link. It is really good. Unable to copy
paste stuff hence the link
http://lex-warrier.in/2013/05/misleading-advertisementsconcept-concerns-and-remedies/
Is there a law against false advertising?
ThereareseverallawsinIndiathatrelatetoadvertising.Asnapshotof
someoftheseenactmentsisprovidedhereunder
ConsumerProtectionAct,1986Section6oftheActgrantsconsumers
therighttobeinformedaboutthequality,quantity,potency,purity,
standardandpriceofgoodsorservices,asthecasemaybesoasto
protecttheconsumeragainstunfairtradepractices.Section2(r)ofthe
Act,underthedefinitionoftheterm"unfairtradepractice",coversthe
gamutoffalseadvertisementsincludingmisrepresentationsorfalse
allurements.Redressagainstsuchunfairtradepracticespertainingtofalse
advertisementsmaybesoughtundertheAct;
CigarettesandotherTobaccoProducts(Prohibitionof
AdvertisementandRegulationofTradeandCommerce,Production,
SupplyandDistribution)Act,2003Section5ofthisAct,interalia,
prohibitsbothdirect&indirectadvertisementoftobaccoproductsinall
formsofaudio,visualandprintmedia;
CableTelevisionNetworks(Regulations)Act,1995andCable
TelevisionNetworks(Amendment)Rules,2006Section6oftheCable
TelevisionNetworks(Regulations)Act,1995providesthatnoperson
shalltransmitorretransmitthroughacableserviceanyadvertisement
unlesssuchadvertisementisinconformitywiththeadvertisementcode
prescribedundertheCableTelevisionNetworks(Amendment)Rules,
2006.However,theaforesaidprovisiondoesnotapplytoprogrammesof
foreignsatellitechannelswhichcanbereceivedwithouttheuseofany
specializedgadgetsordecoder.Rule7oftheCableTelevisionNetworks

(Amendment)Rules,2006laysdowntheAdvertisingCodeforcable
serviceswhichareformulatedtoconformtothelawsofthecountryand
toensurethatadvertisementsdonotoffendmorality,decencyand
religioussusceptibilitiesofthesubscribers;
Doordarshan/AllIndiaRadio(AIR)AdvertisementCode
DoordarshanandAIR,bothunderthecontrolofPrasarBharati(a
statutoryautonomousbodyestablishedunderthePrasarBharatiAct),
followacomprehensivecodeforcommercialadvertisementswhich
controlthecontentandnatureofadvertisementsthatcanberelayedover
theagencies;
DrugandMagicRemedies(ObjectionableAdvertisement)Act,1954
ThisActpurportstoregulatetheadvertisementsofdrugsincertaincases
andtoprohibittheadvertisingforcertainpurposesofremediesallegedto
possessmagicqualitiesandtoprovideformattersconnectedtherewith;
DrugsandCosmeticsAct,1940Section29oftheActimposespenalty
uponwhoeverusesanyreportofatestoranalysismadebytheCentral
DrugsLaboratoryorbyaGovernmentAnalyst,oranyextractfromsuch
report,forthepurposeofadvertisinganydrug.Thepunishment
prescribedforsuchanoffenceisafinewhichmayextenduptofive
hundredrupeesand/orimprisonmentuptotenyearsuponsubsequent
conviction;
EmblemsandNames(Preventionofimproperuse)Act,1950This
pieceoflegislationprohibitstheuseofanytrademarkordesign,any
nameoremblemspecifiedintheScheduleoftheActoranycolorable
imitationthereofforthepurposeofanytrade,business,callingor
professionwithoutthepreviouspermissionoftheCentralGovernment;
FoodSafetyandStandardsAct,2006Section53ofthisActprovidesa
penaltyofuptoRs.10lakhsforfalseandmisleadingadvertisements
relatingtothedescription,nature,substanceorqualityofanyfood;
IndecentRepresentationofWomen(Prohibition)Act,1986ThisAct
isaimedatprohibitingindecentrepresentationofwomenthrough
advertisementsorinpublications,writings,paintings,figuresorinany
othermannerandformattersconnectedtherewithorincidentalthereto
(Section3and4oftheAct).
PrenatalDiagnosticTechniques(RegulationandPreventionof
Misuse)Act,1994Advertisementinanymannerregardingfacilitiesof
prenataldeterminationofsexavailableatanygeneticcounselingcentre,
laboratory,clinicoranyotherplaceisprohibitedunderthisActandhas
beenmadeapunishableoffenceundertheAct(Section22);

YoungPersons(HarmfulPublications)Act,1956Section3oftheAct,
interalia,imposespenaltyforadvertisingormakingknownbyanymeans
whatsoeverthatanyharmfulpublication(asdefinedintheAct)canbe
procuredfromorthroughanyperson;
TheRepresentationofPeopleAct,1951Thedisplaytothepublicof
anyelectionmatterbymeansofcinematograph,televisionorother
similarapparatusinanypollingareaduringtheperiodoffortyeight
hoursendingwiththetimefixedfortheconclusionofthepollforany
electioninthepollingareaisprohibitedundertheAct(Section126).
IndianPenalCode,1806TheIPC,videanarrayofprovisions,
prohibitsobscene,defamatorypublication,publicationofalotteryand/or
statementscreatingorpromotingdisharmony/enmityinsociety.
IssuesinAdvertising
DeceptiveAdvertisingAsadvertisementsaimtoinfluenceorpersuade
customersintobuyingproductsthattheypromote,manyatimes
advertisementsillegallyusefalsestatementsandmisrepresentationsabout
theirproductsinviolationofcustomersrighttoknowexactlywhatthey
arepurchasing.
MisleadingPricesCompaniesoftenhideorfudgepricesofproducts/
servicesadvertisedinordertoattractalargercustomerbase.Theprices
theyadvertiseoftendonotdiscloseadditionalchargesandtheoverall
costtothecustomer.Suchadvertisementsarecommonlyfoundinthe
airlines,mobiletelephonyindustryandmembershipsforclubs.A
commoncaseofsuchmisleadingpricingistheendofseasonsales
whenthepricesofproductsareoftenknockeddownandadvertisedinthe
mediainordertopushupsales.Butwhatsuchadvertisementsdont
discloseisthatsuchknockeddown/discountedpricesareactuallypushed
upbeforeprovidingthediscountsothattheprofitmarginoftheselleron
suchproductsremainsintact.
FailuretomaintainstandardsAttimescompanies/sellers/service
providerscleverlybypassestablishedstandardsapplicabletotheproducts
byadoptingadifferentstandardwhichprovidesasenseofenhanced
efficacyofthegoods/servicesinthemindofthecustomer.Thisalso
providesunfairadvantagestotheselleroveritscompetitors.Such
advertisementsareoftenseeninadvertisementsthatcomparethe
productsadvertisedagainsttheproductsofotherleadingbrands.
LabelingissuesLabelingonproductscanalsobemisleading.They
may,attimes,misrepresentorobfuscatetheactualweightofthepackets

oradoptadifferentstandardofmeasurementcontrarytothegenerally
acceptedstandards.Thepackagingofproductsmayalsouseexotichigh
soundingwordssuchasorganic,ecofriendly,natural,mildetc.
withoutaproperexplanationofthetermsandsuchtermsmayevenbe
usedforproductsthathavenothingtodowithsuchconcepts.
SurrogateAdvertisementsWhenevertheadvertisementsforcertain
productsliketobaccoorliquorwhichhaveadverseeffectonhealthand
arerestrictedorbanned,themanufacturerstendtolaunchnewproducts
withsimilarbrandnames.Ablitzkriegofadvertisementsislaunchedin
themediaforsuchnewproductswithanaimtoreinforceorsustainthe
bannedproducts/advertisements.