Srinagar, September 30: The Jammu and Kashmir Government is set to introduce a New Media Policy, 2026, with provisions for the registration and regulation of online news platforms, including unregistered social media news handles, officials said.
Minister for Information and Public Relations Sakina Itoo informed the Legislative Assembly that the proposed policy is aimed at establishing greater accountability among digital news platforms and addressing concerns over the circulation of misleading, false and fabricated information online.
The issue came up in the House after MLA Bashir Ahmed Shah Veeri raised questions regarding the functioning of social media news platforms and the spread of misleading information. The government said the matter had also been discussed during the previous Budget Session, when legislators raised concerns about the growing number of unregistered and unregulated digital news channels.
According to the government’s response, the Information Department will frame comprehensive guidelines and standard operating procedures under the proposed policy. District administrations will also maintain detailed lists of unregistered social media news handles operating within their respective jurisdictions.
The government said legal action could be initiated under applicable provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, where individuals or platforms are found disseminating false, misleading or fabricated information through social media.
The proposed policy is expected to cover both traditional print media and online news platforms. The government said the framework would seek to address issues including misinformation, fake news, plagiarism and unethical content while establishing mechanisms for accountability in the digital media space.
The government also informed the Assembly that the J&K Home Department has established the J&K Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (JK4C) under the supervision of the Director General of Police, J&K, to coordinate efforts to prevent, detect and investigate cybercrime across the Union Territory.
The Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) already operates a Social Media Cell that monitors news appearing across print, electronic and social media. The department said it issues official rebuttals when content is found to be fake or misleading and publishes such clarifications through its official platforms.
The government had earlier said in February that the draft New Media Policy-2026 was undergoing inter-departmental consultation. The latest statement indicates that the policy is now expected to be issued soon with specific provisions concerning the registration and regulation of online news media platforms.
The proposed framework comes amid wider discussions in Jammu and Kashmir over the rapid growth of digital news portals and social media-based news operations, and the need to balance accountability for published content with constitutional protections for freedom of speech and expression.
