JAMMU, February 12, 2026 — The Jammu and Kashmir government informed the Assembly on Thursday that the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) has issued 28 formal rebuttals to fake and misleading news reports between April 1, 2025, and January 31, 2026. Responding to a query by BJP MLA R.S. Pathania, the government revealed that a dedicated Media Monitoring Cell has been established within the DIPR to track and counter misinformation in real-time.
Of the rebuttals issued, 20 were disseminated via official press releases, while eight were posted through the department’s social media channels.The administration clarified that while it monitors content, the Information Department does not possess the authority to regulate websites, digital platforms, or online news channels, nor does it impose fines for spreading fake news. Furthermore, the government stated that no private Fact Checking Units (FCUs) are currently recognized, authorized, or graded by the department.
To address the evolving digital landscape, a Draft New Media Policy-2026 has been proposed, which includes provisions to regulate social and new media alongside traditional print outlets; this policy is currently undergoing inter-departmental consultations.In addition to media regulation, the government highlighted robust cyber security measures taken in coordination with the IT Department.
Mandatory security audits have been performed for websites hosted on the State and NIC Mini Data Centres, and redundant sites have been decommissioned. Cyber security governance has now been institutionalized with monthly reviews led by the Chief Secretary, the formation of an Information Security Steering Committee, and the preparation of Cyber Crisis Management Plans across all government departments.
