J-K’s new media policy to cover social media platforms

The Jammu and Kashmir government’s proposed New Media Policy 2026 will cover social media platforms, with the draft currently under examination, Director of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) speaking to Kashmir News Service (KNS) said.

The proposed policy seeks to establish a regulatory framework for new and social media alongside print media, amid growing concerns over the circulation of fake news, misinformation and fabricated content on digital platforms.

The move follows discussions in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, where legislators raised concerns over unregistered social media news channels and called for guidelines to ensure accountability in digital journalism.

The government has said the policy would include provisions for regulating online news platforms. The Information Department has also been tasked with framing guidelines and standard operating procedures to address unregistered social media news channels.

Under the proposed mechanism, district administrations would maintain lists of unregistered social media news channels operating in their respective jurisdictions. The government has also indicated that legal action could be initiated against those found disseminating false or misleading information under relevant provisions of existing laws.

The policy is being prepared following directions from a House Committee headed by senior National Conference legislator Ali Mohammad Sagar, which asked the Information Department to formulate comprehensive guidelines within a stipulated timeframe.