Asif Iqbal Naik
Jammu, Feb 12, 2026: Expressing concern over the rising menace of fake news and the mushrooming of unchecked and unauthorised individuals posing as journalists, the Jammu and Kashmir Government on Thursday told the Legislative Assembly that such practices pose a serious threat to peace, stability and the credibility of the noble profession of journalism. The government said steps are being taken to strengthen monitoring mechanisms, even as the Draft New Media Policy-2026 remains under inter-departmental consultation.
Replying in writing to a question tabled by MLA R.S. Pathania, the government clarified that regulation of websites, digital platforms and online news channels does not fall within the mandate of the Information Department. However, it informed the House that the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) has established a dedicated Media Monitoring Cell to track fake or misleading news on a real-time basis.
The government stated that 28 rebuttals regarding fake news and misinformation were issued by the DIPR between April 1, 2025 and January 31, 2026. Of these, 20 were issued through press releases and eight through official social media handles.
It further informed that all departments have designated Nodal Officers to monitor department-specific fake news and upload details on a dedicated portal to ensure a coordinated response. The government clarified that imposition of fines on individuals or organisations found spreading fake news does not fall under the mandate of the Information Department.
The House was told that the department neither recognises nor authorises any private Fact Checking Unit and does not verify or grade private FCUs before granting any authorisation.
In view of the growing influence of new and social media platforms, the government stated that suitable provisions have been proposed in the Draft New Media Policy-2026 to create a regulatory framework covering new and social media along with print media. The draft policy is presently under inter-departmental consultation for finalisation.
On cyber security preparedness, the government informed the House that comprehensive and multi-layered measures have been undertaken based on inputs from the Information Technology Department. Mandatory security audits have been conducted for websites and web applications hosted on the State Data Centre and NIC Mini Data Centre, while redundant websites have been decommissioned or DNS de-mapped.
Cyber security governance has been institutionalised through monthly review meetings chaired by the Chief Secretary, constitution of an Information Security Steering Committee under the Secretary, IT Department, and nomination of Internal Security Officers and Technical Experts across departments and districts.
The government further stated that Cyber Crisis Management Plans have been prepared by all departments and regular cyber drills, awareness programmes and mandatory courses on the iGOT platform are being conducted across the Union Territory. The e-Security Assessment and Management portal has also been launched to strengthen monitoring and management of cyber assets.
