The Diplomat India accepts advertising, sponsorships, branded content, press releases and other commercial partnerships, subject to applicable laws, editorial standards and the publication’s commitment to transparency.
We recognise the importance of maintaining a clear distinction between independent editorial journalism and paid or promotional material. Commercial relationships must not be presented to readers in a manner that creates a misleading impression about the nature or origin of content.
1. Editorial and Commercial Separation
Advertising and commercial activities are separate from independent editorial decision-making.
Advertisers, sponsors, clients and commercial partners do not automatically receive editorial coverage, favourable treatment or control over independent news reporting because of their commercial relationship with The Diplomat India.
The existence of a commercial relationship should not be represented as an editorial endorsement.
2. Types of Commercial Content
The Diplomat India may publish or display commercial material including:
- Display advertisements
- Sponsored articles
- Branded content
- Advertorials
- Promotional features
- Press releases
- Partnership content
- Event promotions
- Commercial announcements
- Affiliate content, where applicable
- Other lawful advertising formats
The nature of the commercial relationship should be clear to readers.
3. Identification of Sponsored Content
Paid or sponsored content should be clearly identified.
Depending on the nature of the material, labels may include:
Sponsored Content
Advertisement
Promoted Content
Brand Partner
Paid Partnership
Press Release
The label used should accurately describe the relationship and should not create the impression that paid content is independent editorial reporting.
4. Sponsored Articles
A sponsored article is content created or published as part of a paid commercial arrangement.
Such content should be visibly distinguishable from ordinary news reports.
A sponsored article should not be presented as independently reported journalism when it has been paid for or materially supported by an advertiser, organisation or other commercial entity.
5. Press Releases
Press releases supplied by companies, government bodies, public relations agencies, organisations or individuals may be considered for publication where editorially appropriate.
A press release should not automatically be presented as independent reporting.
Where applicable, the content should be identified as a Press Release or otherwise clearly attributed to its source.
Editorial staff may independently verify or supplement information where appropriate.
6. Branded Content
Branded content may contain information provided by or produced in collaboration with a commercial partner.
Such material should be clearly identified as branded or sponsored content.
Readers should be able to distinguish branded material from independent reporting without having to infer the commercial relationship.
7. Advertising Does Not Guarantee Coverage
Purchasing advertising space or entering into a commercial partnership with The Diplomat India does not guarantee:
- News coverage
- Positive coverage
- Publication of a particular editorial story
- A favourable editorial position
- Removal of legitimate criticism
- Editorial endorsement
Editorial coverage is subject to the publication’s editorial standards.
8. Editorial Coverage of Advertisers
An advertiser may be covered in an independent news report when the subject is editorially relevant.
The fact that an organisation advertises with The Diplomat India does not automatically prevent legitimate editorial coverage of that organisation.
Similarly, advertising with The Diplomat India does not guarantee favourable treatment.
9. Links in Sponsored Content
Links contained in paid or sponsored content should be handled transparently and in accordance with applicable search-engine requirements.
Where links are placed as part of advertisements or paid placements, appropriate link attributes may be used, including rel="sponsored" where applicable.
Google recommends using appropriate link attributes for paid links and sponsored placements. (developers.google.com)
10. Advertising and Google Search
The Diplomat India does not sell or create editorial content for the purpose of manipulating Google Search rankings.
Paid content should not be used as a mechanism to create deceptive search-engine signals.
Google’s Search policies prohibit practices intended to manipulate search rankings, including certain forms of link spam and scaled content abuse. (developers.google.com)
11. Advertising and Google News
The Diplomat India seeks to maintain a clear distinction between advertising and editorial content.
Google News transparency guidance states that advertising and other paid promotional material should not exceed the editorial content and that sponsorship should be clearly disclosed to readers.
Sponsored or promotional material should therefore never be deliberately designed to appear indistinguishable from independent news reporting.
12. Political and Public-Issue Advertising
Where advertisements concern political, electoral, governmental or other public-interest matters, The Diplomat India will comply with applicable Indian laws, regulations and platform requirements.
The publication does not represent paid political advertising as independent editorial reporting.
Where legally or commercially required, appropriate disclosure or labelling will be provided.
13. Misleading Advertising
The Diplomat India may refuse or remove advertising that it reasonably believes to be:
- False or materially misleading
- Fraudulent
- Illegal
- Deceptive
- Impersonating another organisation
- Promoting unlawful activity
- In violation of applicable advertising requirements
- Inconsistent with applicable platform policies
Acceptance of an advertisement does not necessarily constitute endorsement of the advertiser, its products or its claims.
14. Advertiser Claims
Claims made by advertisers about products, services, organisations or individuals are the responsibility of the advertiser.
Where advertising law requires substantiation, the advertiser may be required to provide appropriate supporting material.
The Diplomat India may decline advertising where the claims cannot reasonably be supported or where publication could create legal or regulatory concerns.
15. Conflicts of Interest
Where KFAEC PRIVATE LIMITED or an associated commercial interest has a relevant relationship with an organisation being covered, the publication may provide appropriate disclosure where necessary.
The Diplomat India seeks to maintain transparency concerning material commercial relationships that could reasonably be relevant to readers.
16. User Trust
Readers should be able to understand whether they are reading:
Independent editorial content
or
Paid, sponsored or promotional content.
The publication therefore seeks to use clear labels, appropriate placement and transparent descriptions for commercial material.
17. Right to Refuse Advertising
The Diplomat India reserves the right to decline, modify, suspend or remove advertising or sponsored material where it does not meet applicable legal, editorial, technical or commercial requirements.
18. Contact for Advertising
For advertising, sponsorships and commercial partnerships:
Email: partnerships@thediplomatindia.com
For editorial matters:
Email: editorial@thediplomatindia.com
Commercial enquiries should not be treated as requests for guaranteed editorial coverage.
19. Policy Review
This policy may be reviewed and updated to reflect changes in applicable Indian laws, advertising standards, PRGI requirements, Google policies and the commercial operations of The Diplomat India.
Last Updated: 16 September 2026