Jammu, Feb 12:
In a significant update on the fight against misinformation, the Jammu and Kashmir government informed the Legislative Assembly on Thursday that it has issued 28 rebuttals to fake and misleading news reports between April 1, 2025, and January 31, 2026.
The administration also revealed that a Draft New Media Policy-2026 is in the works to bring digital and social media platforms under a formal regulatory framework.
The Fight Against Fake News
Responding to a query by BJP MLA R.S. Pathania, the government detailed the operations of the dedicated Media Monitoring Cell within the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR). This cell tracks misleading content in real-time to maintain public order and factual accuracy.
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Total Rebuttals: 28
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Via Press Releases: 20
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Via Social Media: 8
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Key Action: Departments have designated Nodal Officers to identify department-specific fake news and report it through a centralized portal.
Draft Media Policy 2026: What’s Changing?
The House was told that the Draft New Media Policy-2026 is currently under “inter-departmental consultation.” Unlike previous policies, this new draft specifically proposes provisions to:
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Regulate Digital Platforms: Bring online news portals and social media handles under the same scrutiny as traditional print media.
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Modernize Oversight: Address the growing influence of new-age media while ensuring institutional accountability.
Bolstering Cyber Security
On the technical front, the government outlined a multi-layered strategy to protect J&K’s digital infrastructure.
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Security Audits: Mandatory audits were conducted for all websites hosted on the State Data Centre and NIC Mini Data Centre.
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Redundant Sites: Websites no longer in use were decommissioned or had their DNS de-mapped to prevent unauthorized access.
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Governance: Cyber security is now reviewed monthly by the Chief Secretary. Every department has now prepared a Cyber Crisis Management Plan and nominated Internal Security Officers.
The recently launched eSAM (e-Security Assessment and Management) portal was highlighted as a key tool for managing the Union Territory’s cyber assets.
Clarification on Fact-Checking
The government reiterated that no private Fact-Checking Units (FCUs) are currently recognized or authorized by the Information Department. Furthermore, the department does not verify or grade these private entities, maintaining a clear line between government rebuttals and private fact-checking operations.
