**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has deployed a multi-tier mechanism, led by the Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check Unit (FCU), to identify and combat misinformation regarding the Central Government. The document outlines statutory frameworks across print, broadcast, and digital media intended to improve information credibility and national security. Key actions highlighted include the blocking of over 1,400 URLs during "Operation Sindoor" under Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**The Fact Check Unit (FCU) and Digital Enforcement**
* The FCU identifies and verifies misinformation related to the Central Government and disseminates accurate information, particularly in border districts.
* During "Operation Sindoor," the Ministry blocked over 1,400 URLs containing false, anti-India, or communally sensitive content originating primarily from Pakistan.
* Under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Government issues orders to block websites and social media handles to protect national sovereignty, defense, and public order.
**Print and Television Regulations**
* **Print Media:** Newspapers must adhere to the Press Council of India’s (PCI) "Norms of Journalistic Conduct," which prohibit fake or defamatory news. The PCI holds inquiries and can warn or censure violators under the PCI Act.
* **Television:** TV channels must follow the Programme Code of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, prohibiting obscene or deliberately false content.
* **Grievance Redressal:** The Cable Television Network (Amendment) Rules 2021 established a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism to address complaints regarding Programme Code violations.
**Digital Media and Community Radio**
* **Digital Media:** Publishers of news and online curated content are governed by the IT Rules 2021, which mandate a Code of Ethics and a three-level institutional grievance redressal mechanism.
* **Community Radio Stations (CRSs):** These stations are utilized to counter misinformation in border districts by broadcasting locally relevant content.
* **CRS Governance:** CRSs must establish an Advisory and Content Committee composed of local community members and are encouraged to broadcast in local languages and dialects.
**Impact Analysis**
**Central Government and PIB**
**Impact**
Empowered to actively monitor and debunk misinformation while maintaining the authority to block digital content that threatens state security.
**Action Required**
The FCU must continue verifying news from authorized sources and disseminating correct information via social media platforms.
**Print, Television, and Digital Media Publishers**
**Impact**
Publishers are held to strict statutory standards and ethical codes (PCI Norms, Programme Code, and IT Rules 2021) with potential legal consequences for violations.
**Action Required**
Adhere to established codes of conduct, participate in the three-tier grievance redressal mechanisms, and ensure content is not defamatory or misleading.
**Community Radio Stations (CRSs)**
**Impact**
Identified as critical tools for local outreach and countering misinformation at the grassroots level.
**Action Required**
Constitute Advisory and Content Committees and prioritize the production of programs in local languages to ensure better comprehension among target audiences.
**Digital Platforms and Social Media Users**
**Impact**
Subject to content removal and account blocking if posts are deemed inciteful, anti-India, or a threat to public order.
**Action Required**
Compliance with Section 69A of the IT Act and adherence to the Code of Ethics for digital publishers.
Key Entities Referenced
Fact Check Unit (FCU): A unit under the Press Information Bureau that identifies and counters misinformation and fake news relating to the Central Government.
Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021: Regulations providing a Code of Ethics and a three-level grievance redressal mechanism for digital media and online curated content publishers.
Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000: Statutory provision empowering the government to block websites and social media posts to protect national sovereignty, integrity, and security.
Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995: Legislation requiring TV channels to follow the Programme Code and Advertising Code, supported by a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism.
Press Council of India (PCI): A statutory body that maintains journalistic standards in print media through the 'Norms of Journalistic Conduct' and inquiry powers under the PCI Act.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Government Deploys Multi-Tier Mechanism to
Curb Fake News; FCU, IT Rules and Media
Regulations Aimed to Improve Information
Credibility
PIB’s Fact Check Unit (FCU) Ensures Timely and Accurate
Public Communication
Posted On: 02 APR 2026 4:09PM by PIB Delhi
A Fact Check Unit (FCU) functions under Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting. FCU identifies misinformation and fake news relating to the Central Government. After
verifying the authenticity of news from authorized sources, FCU publishes correct information on its
social media platforms for wide dissemination including in border districts.
During Operation Sindoor, the FCU actively identified misinformation and fake news circulating online. It
promptly fact-checked false claims, providing authentic information, and ensuring accurate public
communication. Ministry also issued directions for blocking of over 1,400 URLs on digital media during
Operation Sindoor. The content of these URLs included false, misleading, anti-India news content,
communally sensitive content primarily from Pakistan based social media accounts and inciteful content
against Indian Armed Forces.
Under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, Government issues necessary orders to
block websites, social media handles and posts in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India,
defence of India, security of the State, and public order.
Apart from above, the Government takes all possible steps to curb fake news with the available statutory
and institutional mechanisms on various media platforms, which include:
Print media: Newspapers have to adhere to “Norms of Journalistic Conduct” brought out by the
Press Council of India (PCI). These norms, inter-alia, restrain publication of fake/ defamatory/
misleading news. The Council holds inquiry into alleged violations of the norms, as per section 14
of the PCI Act, and may warn, admonish or censure the newspaper, editors, journalists, etc. as the
case may be.
Television: TV channels are required to adhere to the Programme Code under the Cable Television
Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, which, inter alia, provides that content which contains anything
obscene, defamatory, deliberate false and suggestive innuendos and half-truths is not broadcast.
Cable Television Network (Amendment) Rules 2021, provides for a three-tier grievance redressal
mechanism to look into the complaints relating to the violation of the Code by the TV channels.
Appropriate action is taken where violation of Programme Code is found.Digital media: For the publishers of news and current affairs on digital media and publishers of
online curated content, the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media
Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (IT Rules, 2021) provides for a Code of Ethics along with a three-level
institutional mechanism for redressal of grievance relating to violation of Code of Ethics by such
publishers.
The I&B Ministry also issues advisories from time to time to private satellite TV channels for adherence
of the Programme Code and Advertising Code under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act,
1995.
Community Radio Stations (CRSs) play an important role in dissemination of authentic, timely and
locally relevant information including in border districts. Programmes should be of immediate relevance
to the local community thereby addressing local concerns and countering misinformation effectively.
CRSs are required to constitute an Advisory and Content Committee comprising members from the local
community, to decide upon the content being broadcast on the community radio. Programmes are
preferably broadcast in local languages and dialects to ensure better outreach and comprehension among
the target audience.
This Information was submitted by the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan
in a written reply in Lok Sabha in response of questions asked by Shri Ummeda Ram Beniwal.
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Mahesh Kumar/ Vivek Vishwash
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