On November 19 there was a full-page advertisement from the Reserve Bank of India regarding the Integrated Ombudsman Scheme in national and local newspapers. In the advertisement appears a famous film actor. This is just one example while there are many more where stars and sports people appear in government ads, announcements of schemes, welfare measures, recruitment in defenCe services, etc. Is it necessary to use well-known personalities, unrelated to the ads, whether their services are paid or they do it on gratis? There is no guarantee that citizens would recall the ads just because it displays a famous person. If the governments (Centre and States) need to feature any one it could be any of the following: a common citizen, President, Prime Minister, or the Minister who holds the portfolio that is apt for the ads such as the Finance or DefenCe Ministers. Or just the Indian flag will suffice. The subject of the ads is important rather then the personalities.
