Editorial Guidelines
Jul 14, 2026, 13:11 IST
TIMES LIFEEditorial Guidelinestimeslife.comVersion 1.0 | Effective Date: 02 July 2026 | Times Internet Limited
TIMES LIFE
Editorial Guidelines
timeslife.com
Version 1.0 | Effective Date: 02 July 2026 | Times Internet Limited
1. Purpose & Scope
These Editorial Guidelines govern all content published on timeslife.com across its verticals — Health & Fitness, Spiritual, Travel, Relationship, Fashion & Beauty, Life Hacks, Space, and Pets & Animals — including staff-written, freelance, syndicated, and sponsored content. All contributors, editors, and partners producing content for Times Life are required to comply with these guidelines as a condition of publication. These Editorial Guidelines establish the minimum editorial and legal standards applicable to publication on Times Life. They supplement, and do not replace applicable law, internal company policies and editorial judgment.
2. Applicable Legal Framework (India)
Times Life content is published subject to, and must remain compliant with, the following Indian legal and regulatory frameworks:
Information Technology Act, 2000 & IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 — Require compliance with applicable Due diligence obligations, for digital publishers, including grievance redressal mechanism, lawful content moderation, and compliance with content takedown within given timelines.
Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDPA) — Applies to the collection, use, storage and processing of any reader data, including registrations, comments, contests, newsletter sign-ups, and other interactive quizzes. and features.
Copyright Act, 1957 — Protects literary, artistic and photographic works. Governs image and text sourcing and the limits of permissible fair use and require that all text, images, videos and other third-party content must be lawfully obtained through a license, permission or other lawful means, attributed where required, or otherwise used in accordance with copyright law.
Consumer Protection Act, 2019 & CCPA Guidelines on Misleading Advertisements — Critical for Health & Fitness content and all sponsored/affiliate content.
Consumer Protection (Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements) Guidelines, 2022 and the ASCI Code for Self-Regulation of Advertising – Regulates misleading advertisements, endorsements, product claims, affiliate content and sponsored content.
Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 — Directly relevant to spiritual/remedy-adjacent content (e.g., claims of "removing generational curses," unverified health claims). Prohibits advertisements and claims relating to the diagnosis, cure, mitigation or prevention of specified diseases and conditions. Editorial content must not make false, misleading or unsubstantiated nutritional, safety or health claims particularly where such content could reasonably be perceived as promoting specific products.
Press Council of India Norms of Journalistic Conduct — Persuasive (not binding); referenced as good editorial practice. Sets recognised standards of ethical journalism relating to accuracy, fairness, privacy, responsible reporting and corrections.
Mental Healthcare Act, 2017- Establishes the rights of persons with mental illness to dignified, non-discriminatory treatment. Relevant to framing of mental-health content in Health & Fitness and Relationship verticals so as not to stigmatize, trivialize, or misrepresent mental illness.
Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 — Relevant to framing and imagery in Relationship and Fashion & Beauty content. Prohibits the indecent representation of women in any publication, advertisement, writing, image or other material. Editorial content, including headlines, images, videos, illustrations and promotional material, must not depict women in a derogatory, objectifying, sexually explicit or stereotypical manner, or otherwise undermine their dignity or modesty.
3. Category-Specific Standards
3.1 Spiritual
• Content framed as philosophical or cultural interpretation (e.g., Gita shlokas, Chanakya niti, temple lore) must carry the standing disclaimer set out below.
Mandatory Disclaimer Text: "This article is based on spiritual/traditional beliefs and is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute religious, medical, or professional advice."
• Claims of tangible real-world effects (e.g., "removes curses," "brings luck") must not be stated as fact. Such claims must be attributed to belief systems and framed as belief, not presented as guaranteed outcomes. Phrasing that implies a remedy or cure creates direct exposure under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954. Editorial teams must not publish any claim relating to the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of diseases or conditions prohibited under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.
• No content may disparage any religion, deity, or community. Comparative "my religion vs. yours" framing is prohibited.
3.2 Health & Fitness
• No specific medical claims, dosages, or "cures" may be published without citing a qualified source (a doctor or peer-reviewed study). Even where sourced, such content must be written as general information and not as personalised medical advice.
• Home remedies, supplements, or alternative medicine (Ayurveda, homeopathy, etc.) must not be presented as a substitute for professional medical advice; readers must be directed to consult a qualified professional before making health decisions.
• Every Health & Fitness article must carry the mandatory disclaimer set out below.
Mandatory Disclaimer Text: "This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Do not ignore or delay professional medical advice because of information in this article."
• Sensitive topics (mental health, eating disorders, self-harm) must include helpline information and avoid triggering detail, consistent with platform-wide wellbeing policy.
Mandatory Disclaimer Text: "This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice."
3.3 Relationship
• Advice content must avoid absolute gendered generalizations stated as fact; such content must be reframed as perspective or opinion, not universal truth, to reduce defamation and stereotyping risk. Editorial standards apply equally to headlines, titles, sub-headings, thumbnails, metadata, SEO titles, image captions and social media copy. Headlines must accurately reflect the underlying content and must not contain exaggerated, misleading, defamatory, discriminatory or stereotypical statements, nor present opinion, hypothesis or anecdotal observations as established fact.
• No content may normalize manipulation, coercion, or non-consensual behavior.
• Content must not use diagnostic or clinical language (e.g., “you have depression,” “this is narcissistic abuse”) to characterize a reader’s personal situation; such content must be framed as general information, not personalized diagnosis or therapy.
3.4 Fashion & Beauty / Life Hacks
• All product mentions must disclose affiliate or sponsored relationships in line with CCPA guidelines.
• No unverified beauty or health claims (e.g., skin-lightening, weight-loss shortcuts) may be published.
• No unverified claims about a real person’s private life. Content must not imply a celebrity’s or influencer’s endorsement of a product or service without confirmed authorization.
3.5 Travel / Pets & Animals / Space
• Factual accuracy is required for all claims regarding locations, wildlife, and science. Sources must be cited for any claim presented as scientific fact.
• Pets & Animals content: no specific diagnostic or treatment advice for pet illnesses; content must direct readers to consult a licensed veterinarian for anything beyond general care tips, and must carry the disclaimer: “This content is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Do not ignore or delay professional medical advice because of information in this article”
• Content must not normalize neglect, abandonment, or harmful training practices, and features on exotic pets should flag legal/ownership restrictions where relevant.
3.6 Trending, Viral & Third-Party Social Media Content
• Third-party social media content (including videos, images, reels and user-generated content) must be used only in accordance with applicable law, platform terms, licensing requirements or the creator's permission, as applicable.
• Public availability of social media content does not, by itself, constitute consent for broader editorial use.
• Editorial teams must respect the privacy and dignity of identifiable individuals and avoid publishing unnecessary personal information.
• Headlines, captions and editorial commentary must accurately reflect the original content and context and must not attribute unverified facts or make misleading, defamatory or sensational claims.
• Where the authenticity or context of viral content cannot be independently verified, it must not be presented as established fact.
3.7 Defamation & Reputational Risk, Sub Judice & Court Reporting
• Content must clearly distinguish between “accused”, ”alleged”, “suspected”, “under investigation” “charged”, “convicted/guilty” and “acquitted/not guilty” when describing a named individual or organisation. Material factual claims or allegations concerning an identifiable individual or organisation must, wherever practicable, be verified using at least two independent and credible sources prior to publication. Where verification is not practicable, the content must either not be published or must clearly state the limitations on verification.
• Subjects of critical coverage must be given a genuine opportunity to respond before publication, wherever feasible (right of reply).
• No fabricated quotes, composite characters, or reconstructed dialogue may be presented as fact.
• No commentary that could prejudice an ongoing trial or amount to contempt of court; content must report only what is on the court record. Court reporting must accurately reflect the court record, pleadings, orders, judgments or verified proceedings. Headlines and summaries must not overstate what the court has held or imply guilt, liability or judicial findings where none exist.
3.8 Influencer & Celebrity Content
• No unverified claims about a real person’s private life.
• Content must not imply a celebrity’s or influencer’s endorsement of a product or service without confirmed authorization.
3.9 Sponsored Content, Affiliate Links & Advertorials
• All sponsored/branded content must be labelled “Sponsored,” “Advertorial,” or “In partnership with” — with no ambiguity — per the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules and ASCI guidelines.
• Affiliate links (product recommendations, “best of” lists for food, accessories, grooming products, etc.) must carry an affiliate disclosure statement.
• Editorial and commercial content must remain visually and structurally distinguishable. All material connections or paid promotions must be appropriately disclosed; all sponsored content, affiliate articles, product reviews, endorsements, influencer collaborations and branded content and promotional content must use labels such as 'Advertisement', 'Sponsored', 'Paid Partnership' or '#Ad/#Sponsored', as appropriate, and must comply with applicable disclosure requirements under law and the ASCI Code
3.10 User-Generated Content, Quizzes & Comments
• Comment moderation policy must screen for hate speech, harassment, defamatory statements, and content violating the IT Rules, 2021 (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code).
• Interactive quizzes (e.g. astrology, relationship, parenting quizzes) that collect personal data must carry a clear consent notice at the point of collection, stating what is collected and how it will be used, per the DPDPA, 2023.
• Comment sections must be subject to appropriate content moderation measures, including automated tools and/or human review, to identify and address hate speech, harassment, defamatory or other prohibited content consistent with Section 7 (Prohibited Content). An accessible mechanism must be available for readers to report objectionable content for review.
4. Sourcing & Attribution
• No plagiarism. Syndicated wire content must meet a minimum rewrite/paraphrase standard.
• AI-assisted content must be human reviewed and fact-verified, checked prior to publishing. AI involvement must be disclosed in accordance with internal policy...
• Images must be licensed or stock-cleared. Unauthorized use of copyrighted photography or religious iconography without rights clearance is prohibited.
• No publishing of private individuals’ personal data (address, phone number, medical records, minors’ identities) without consent or overriding public interest, consistent with the DPDP Act, 2023. Special caution must be exercised with images of minors, accident/crime victims, and medical patients.
5. Grievance Redressal
Mandatory under the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021:
• A designated Grievance Officer must be appointed, with name and contact details published on the site.
• Takedown or court-order requests received at the editorial desk must be routed to Legal for review and action; editorial staff must not action such requests unilaterally.
• Complaints must be acknowledged within 24 hours and resolved within 15 days. All complaints, notices, takedown requests, moderation decisions and actions taken must be documented and retained for a minimum period of 180 days, or such longer period as may be required under applicable law or internal record retention policies.
• Content flagged under a court or government order must be taken down within 36 hours unless specified for immediate or in shorter time period specified under such order.
6. Corrections Policy
• Factual errors must be corrected promptly, with a visible correction note and timestamp.
• Silent edits that materially change a published claim are not permitted.
• Content identified by editors, moderators or automated monitoring systems as prima facie unlawful, misleading, defamatory or otherwise violative of these Guidelines must be escalated immediately and reviewed within 24 hours.
7. Prohibited Content
The following categories of content are prohibited across all Times Life verticals:
• Hate speech and misinformation
• Content promoting self-harm
• Defamatory statements about identifiable individuals
• Unverified medical or legal advice presented as fact
• Plagiarized material
Approved for publication as the governing editorial policy for timeslife.com
Times Internet Limited
Editorial Guidelines
timeslife.com
Version 1.0 | Effective Date: 02 July 2026 | Times Internet Limited
1. Purpose & Scope
These Editorial Guidelines govern all content published on timeslife.com across its verticals — Health & Fitness, Spiritual, Travel, Relationship, Fashion & Beauty, Life Hacks, Space, and Pets & Animals — including staff-written, freelance, syndicated, and sponsored content. All contributors, editors, and partners producing content for Times Life are required to comply with these guidelines as a condition of publication. These Editorial Guidelines establish the minimum editorial and legal standards applicable to publication on Times Life. They supplement, and do not replace applicable law, internal company policies and editorial judgment.
2. Applicable Legal Framework (India)
Times Life content is published subject to, and must remain compliant with, the following Indian legal and regulatory frameworks:
Information Technology Act, 2000 & IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 — Require compliance with applicable Due diligence obligations, for digital publishers, including grievance redressal mechanism, lawful content moderation, and compliance with content takedown within given timelines.
Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDPA) — Applies to the collection, use, storage and processing of any reader data, including registrations, comments, contests, newsletter sign-ups, and other interactive quizzes. and features.
Copyright Act, 1957 — Protects literary, artistic and photographic works. Governs image and text sourcing and the limits of permissible fair use and require that all text, images, videos and other third-party content must be lawfully obtained through a license, permission or other lawful means, attributed where required, or otherwise used in accordance with copyright law.
Consumer Protection Act, 2019 & CCPA Guidelines on Misleading Advertisements — Critical for Health & Fitness content and all sponsored/affiliate content.
Consumer Protection (Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements) Guidelines, 2022 and the ASCI Code for Self-Regulation of Advertising – Regulates misleading advertisements, endorsements, product claims, affiliate content and sponsored content.
Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 — Directly relevant to spiritual/remedy-adjacent content (e.g., claims of "removing generational curses," unverified health claims). Prohibits advertisements and claims relating to the diagnosis, cure, mitigation or prevention of specified diseases and conditions. Editorial content must not make false, misleading or unsubstantiated nutritional, safety or health claims particularly where such content could reasonably be perceived as promoting specific products.
Press Council of India Norms of Journalistic Conduct — Persuasive (not binding); referenced as good editorial practice. Sets recognised standards of ethical journalism relating to accuracy, fairness, privacy, responsible reporting and corrections.
Mental Healthcare Act, 2017- Establishes the rights of persons with mental illness to dignified, non-discriminatory treatment. Relevant to framing of mental-health content in Health & Fitness and Relationship verticals so as not to stigmatize, trivialize, or misrepresent mental illness.
Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 — Relevant to framing and imagery in Relationship and Fashion & Beauty content. Prohibits the indecent representation of women in any publication, advertisement, writing, image or other material. Editorial content, including headlines, images, videos, illustrations and promotional material, must not depict women in a derogatory, objectifying, sexually explicit or stereotypical manner, or otherwise undermine their dignity or modesty.
3. Category-Specific Standards
3.1 Spiritual
• Content framed as philosophical or cultural interpretation (e.g., Gita shlokas, Chanakya niti, temple lore) must carry the standing disclaimer set out below.
Mandatory Disclaimer Text: "This article is based on spiritual/traditional beliefs and is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute religious, medical, or professional advice."
• Claims of tangible real-world effects (e.g., "removes curses," "brings luck") must not be stated as fact. Such claims must be attributed to belief systems and framed as belief, not presented as guaranteed outcomes. Phrasing that implies a remedy or cure creates direct exposure under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954. Editorial teams must not publish any claim relating to the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of diseases or conditions prohibited under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.
• No content may disparage any religion, deity, or community. Comparative "my religion vs. yours" framing is prohibited.
3.2 Health & Fitness
• No specific medical claims, dosages, or "cures" may be published without citing a qualified source (a doctor or peer-reviewed study). Even where sourced, such content must be written as general information and not as personalised medical advice.
• Home remedies, supplements, or alternative medicine (Ayurveda, homeopathy, etc.) must not be presented as a substitute for professional medical advice; readers must be directed to consult a qualified professional before making health decisions.
• Every Health & Fitness article must carry the mandatory disclaimer set out below.
Mandatory Disclaimer Text: "This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Do not ignore or delay professional medical advice because of information in this article."
• Sensitive topics (mental health, eating disorders, self-harm) must include helpline information and avoid triggering detail, consistent with platform-wide wellbeing policy.
Mandatory Disclaimer Text: "This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice."
3.3 Relationship
• Advice content must avoid absolute gendered generalizations stated as fact; such content must be reframed as perspective or opinion, not universal truth, to reduce defamation and stereotyping risk. Editorial standards apply equally to headlines, titles, sub-headings, thumbnails, metadata, SEO titles, image captions and social media copy. Headlines must accurately reflect the underlying content and must not contain exaggerated, misleading, defamatory, discriminatory or stereotypical statements, nor present opinion, hypothesis or anecdotal observations as established fact.
• No content may normalize manipulation, coercion, or non-consensual behavior.
• Content must not use diagnostic or clinical language (e.g., “you have depression,” “this is narcissistic abuse”) to characterize a reader’s personal situation; such content must be framed as general information, not personalized diagnosis or therapy.
3.4 Fashion & Beauty / Life Hacks
• All product mentions must disclose affiliate or sponsored relationships in line with CCPA guidelines.
• No unverified beauty or health claims (e.g., skin-lightening, weight-loss shortcuts) may be published.
• No unverified claims about a real person’s private life. Content must not imply a celebrity’s or influencer’s endorsement of a product or service without confirmed authorization.
3.5 Travel / Pets & Animals / Space
• Factual accuracy is required for all claims regarding locations, wildlife, and science. Sources must be cited for any claim presented as scientific fact.
• Pets & Animals content: no specific diagnostic or treatment advice for pet illnesses; content must direct readers to consult a licensed veterinarian for anything beyond general care tips, and must carry the disclaimer: “This content is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Do not ignore or delay professional medical advice because of information in this article”
• Content must not normalize neglect, abandonment, or harmful training practices, and features on exotic pets should flag legal/ownership restrictions where relevant.
3.6 Trending, Viral & Third-Party Social Media Content
• Third-party social media content (including videos, images, reels and user-generated content) must be used only in accordance with applicable law, platform terms, licensing requirements or the creator's permission, as applicable.
• Public availability of social media content does not, by itself, constitute consent for broader editorial use.
• Editorial teams must respect the privacy and dignity of identifiable individuals and avoid publishing unnecessary personal information.
• Headlines, captions and editorial commentary must accurately reflect the original content and context and must not attribute unverified facts or make misleading, defamatory or sensational claims.
• Where the authenticity or context of viral content cannot be independently verified, it must not be presented as established fact.
3.7 Defamation & Reputational Risk, Sub Judice & Court Reporting
• Content must clearly distinguish between “accused”, ”alleged”, “suspected”, “under investigation” “charged”, “convicted/guilty” and “acquitted/not guilty” when describing a named individual or organisation. Material factual claims or allegations concerning an identifiable individual or organisation must, wherever practicable, be verified using at least two independent and credible sources prior to publication. Where verification is not practicable, the content must either not be published or must clearly state the limitations on verification.
• Subjects of critical coverage must be given a genuine opportunity to respond before publication, wherever feasible (right of reply).
• No fabricated quotes, composite characters, or reconstructed dialogue may be presented as fact.
• No commentary that could prejudice an ongoing trial or amount to contempt of court; content must report only what is on the court record. Court reporting must accurately reflect the court record, pleadings, orders, judgments or verified proceedings. Headlines and summaries must not overstate what the court has held or imply guilt, liability or judicial findings where none exist.
3.8 Influencer & Celebrity Content
• No unverified claims about a real person’s private life.
• Content must not imply a celebrity’s or influencer’s endorsement of a product or service without confirmed authorization.
3.9 Sponsored Content, Affiliate Links & Advertorials
• All sponsored/branded content must be labelled “Sponsored,” “Advertorial,” or “In partnership with” — with no ambiguity — per the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules and ASCI guidelines.
• Affiliate links (product recommendations, “best of” lists for food, accessories, grooming products, etc.) must carry an affiliate disclosure statement.
• Editorial and commercial content must remain visually and structurally distinguishable. All material connections or paid promotions must be appropriately disclosed; all sponsored content, affiliate articles, product reviews, endorsements, influencer collaborations and branded content and promotional content must use labels such as 'Advertisement', 'Sponsored', 'Paid Partnership' or '#Ad/#Sponsored', as appropriate, and must comply with applicable disclosure requirements under law and the ASCI Code
3.10 User-Generated Content, Quizzes & Comments
• Comment moderation policy must screen for hate speech, harassment, defamatory statements, and content violating the IT Rules, 2021 (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code).
• Interactive quizzes (e.g. astrology, relationship, parenting quizzes) that collect personal data must carry a clear consent notice at the point of collection, stating what is collected and how it will be used, per the DPDPA, 2023.
• Comment sections must be subject to appropriate content moderation measures, including automated tools and/or human review, to identify and address hate speech, harassment, defamatory or other prohibited content consistent with Section 7 (Prohibited Content). An accessible mechanism must be available for readers to report objectionable content for review.
4. Sourcing & Attribution
• No plagiarism. Syndicated wire content must meet a minimum rewrite/paraphrase standard.
• AI-assisted content must be human reviewed and fact-verified, checked prior to publishing. AI involvement must be disclosed in accordance with internal policy...
• Images must be licensed or stock-cleared. Unauthorized use of copyrighted photography or religious iconography without rights clearance is prohibited.
• No publishing of private individuals’ personal data (address, phone number, medical records, minors’ identities) without consent or overriding public interest, consistent with the DPDP Act, 2023. Special caution must be exercised with images of minors, accident/crime victims, and medical patients.
5. Grievance Redressal
Mandatory under the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021:
• A designated Grievance Officer must be appointed, with name and contact details published on the site.
• Takedown or court-order requests received at the editorial desk must be routed to Legal for review and action; editorial staff must not action such requests unilaterally.
• Complaints must be acknowledged within 24 hours and resolved within 15 days. All complaints, notices, takedown requests, moderation decisions and actions taken must be documented and retained for a minimum period of 180 days, or such longer period as may be required under applicable law or internal record retention policies.
• Content flagged under a court or government order must be taken down within 36 hours unless specified for immediate or in shorter time period specified under such order.
6. Corrections Policy
• Factual errors must be corrected promptly, with a visible correction note and timestamp.
• Silent edits that materially change a published claim are not permitted.
• Content identified by editors, moderators or automated monitoring systems as prima facie unlawful, misleading, defamatory or otherwise violative of these Guidelines must be escalated immediately and reviewed within 24 hours.
7. Prohibited Content
The following categories of content are prohibited across all Times Life verticals:
• Hate speech and misinformation
• Content promoting self-harm
• Defamatory statements about identifiable individuals
• Unverified medical or legal advice presented as fact
• Plagiarized material
Approved for publication as the governing editorial policy for timeslife.com
Times Internet Limited