SRINAGAR: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, today issued a fresh advisory urging all media organizations to avoid live reporting of defence operations and security force movements, citing national security concerns.
The advisory instructs news outlets, digital platforms, and social media users to act with maximum responsibility and comply fully with existing laws and guidelines when covering defence and security-related developments. It stresses that real-time broadcasts, sharing of visuals, or reporting based on unnamed sources regarding military actions or troop movements are strictly prohibited, warning that premature disclosure of sensitive details could jeopardize operational success and endanger lives.
Referencing earlier incidents such as the Kargil conflict, the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, and the Kandahar hijacking, the Ministry noted that unregulated coverage during those events had inadvertently harmed national interests.
The statement also reminded media organizations and individuals of their ethical duty to avoid compromising the safety of personnel or the integrity of ongoing operations. It reiterated previous instructions under Rule 6(1)(p) of the Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules, 2021, which ban live telecasts of anti-terror operations, allowing only official updates through designated authorities.
