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Wednesday,29-July-2026
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Fake news on social media adds to challenges in maintaining electoral integrity

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New Delhi, Oct 31: In 2020, the Bihar Assembly election was announced even as the country was coming out of the Coronavirus pandemic and citizens were slowly stepping out of a ‘lockdown’; and when the worldwide web proved to be the most effective means of communication.

While the poll process had to be undertaken on time in keeping with the rules in a Parliamentary democracy, the Election Commission had to issue strictures on physical campaigns to adhere to health and hygiene safety protocols. As the election campaign and political outreach further increased on the internet, fraudsters sharpened their skills on the internet. Election propaganda was infiltrated with fake news meant to influence voters. Some were detected, some were not.

But as technology brought election information on mobile screens, it also introduced with it the underbelly of false and fraudulent data and content. Misinformation and disinformation on social media evolved among challenges against maintaining electoral integrity, along with money, muscle, including violations of the Model Code of Conduct. However, the Bihar election 2020 was conducted successfully against all odds.

Now, the 2025 Assembly polls will be the first among state elections to be held after the Election Commission launched a “register” for information on false and misleading information during the process, with answers to frequently asked questions. The poll body launched a “Myth vs Reality Register” on April 2, 2024, a few days ahead of the Lok Sabha polls that year. It will be updated with information with inputs from the coming exercises collected through the Commission’s monitoring sources.

However, with the advancement in technology and the vastness of the worldwide web, monitoring and sharing such fake-bursting information is time-consuming, proving difficult sometimes.

In August this year, the Election Commission dismissed news circulating on various social media platforms claiming that the poll body had suddenly removed e-voter rolls of many states from its website. The Commission added that anyone can download the electoral rolls for any of the 36 States and Union Territories through its website ‘voters.eci.gov.in’.

On October 24, the poll body released an advisory, specifying guidelines on the use of AI-generated content for election campaigning ahead of the Bihar Assembly election this year. Fake news on the internet is not recent, though the extended use of social media and video communication applications increased during the pandemic-induced lockdown.

A few years ago, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) found that false news travels significantly faster and wider online than real news. Their findings were published in the journal Science, which revealed, “Fake news spreads faster than true news on Twitter (renamed X) – thanks to people, not bots.” It added that such posts containing falsehoods were 70 per cent more likely to be retweeted than truthful tweets.

The researchers analysed a huge dataset, comprising about 1,26,000 news cascades on X (then Twitter) that encompassed over 45 lakh tweets by around 30 lakh users between 2006 and 2017.

To ensure accuracy, the study relied on the assessments of six independent fact-checking organisations, resulting in a high degree of consensus on the veracity of the news stories.

Notably, fake news was found to be particularly prevalent in the political arena.

“Whether in India, the UK, or the United States, where social media is extensively used to reach out to a certain section of voters, you will find such misinformation and disinformation,” said Dr Sambit Pal, In-Charge Director at the International School of Broadcasting and Journalism, MIT Art, Design and Technology University, Pune.

“Fake news has become an integral part of political communication everywhere. In India, social media has been used aggressively by political parties with a dedicated IT department to microtarget voters and change the narrative. Here, many supporters misuse the process to suit their own narrative,” added Dr Pal, who is also part of the India Training Network of Google News Initiative, conducting workshops on fact-checking and fake news verification.

National News

‘No minister can issue such orders’: Jitendra Singh rejects Rahul’s claims of Amit Shah ordering firing on protesting students

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New Delhi, July 29: Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Wednesday criticised Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, for his remarks about Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a discussion in the House, alleging that he spoke without verifying facts and lacked basic knowledge of administrative procedures.

Speaking during the debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, Jitendra Singh said: “First of all, it is disappointing to see the conduct of the Opposition when such an important Bill is being discussed. This legislation has been brought with great sensitivity and reflects the commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards ensuring fairness in public examinations. Instead of participating in a constructive discussion or offering suggestions, the Opposition is trying to politicise the issue.”

The Union Minister also expressed surprise over Gandhi’s conduct in Parliament.

“I am surprised by the behaviour of the Leader of the Opposition. The kind of language he used in Parliament was inappropriate. Such expressions should not be used in the House. If any Member of Parliament wishes to describe himself in a certain manner, that is a matter for outside Parliament, but such language has no place here,” he said.

Singh further said that Gandhi appeared unaware of parliamentary norms despite holding a position of responsibility.

“The office of the Leader of the Opposition carries great respect. It is surprising that he does not seem to know the basic norms of Parliament. If he claims that his remarks were not directed at any individual, then one wonders whether he was referring to the students. If students are being described in such terms, then nothing could be more unfortunate,” he said.

Referring to Gandhi’s allegations against Amit Shah, Singh said, “When Rahul Gandhi claims that Amit Shah ordered action against students, he has failed to provide any evidence to support the allegation. For basic information, no minister can issue such orders. Such decisions are taken by a magistrate, District Magistrate (DM), or Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM). This is basic administrative knowledge, and it appears he lacks even this understanding.”

He further rejected Gandhi’s other claims.

“There was no firing; only tear gas was used. He also claimed that the Home Minister travels with 30 vehicles, which suggests he may be mistaken even in his calculations. He further alleged that the Home Minister was abroad, but there is no evidence to support that claim. Amit Shah has not gone abroad. Making statements without facts or evidence is not the conduct expected from the Leader of the Opposition,” Singh said.

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National News

Mumbai: Woman, 21-year-old biker killed in high-speed collision on Mahim Causeway

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New Delhi, July 29: A 50-year-old woman and a 21-year-old motorcyclist were killed after a speeding motorcycle hit the woman while she was crossing the road on Mumbai Mahim Causeway on Tuesday night, police said.

According to Mahim Police, the accident occurred at around 9:20 p.m. on General Arun Kumar Vaidya Marg near Mahim Causeway. The deceased have been identified as Mangala Tandel (50) and Dhruv Manoj Gurav (21), both residents of Mahim.

Police said Mangala Tandel was crossing the road along with her two daughters to visit a relative who lived on the opposite side when a speeding KTM motorcycle allegedly struck her. The impact left both Tandel and the rider critically injured.

Mangala’s husband, Ashok Tandel, who works with Bank of Baroda, told police that he was at home when he heard a loud crash. Rushing outside, he found his wife and the motorcycle rider lying seriously injured on the road, with the KTM motorcycle at the scene.

With the help of local residents, Mangala was rushed to Raheja Hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, the injured rider, identified as Dhruv Gurav, was initially taken to Bhabha Hospital before being shifted to Raheja Hospital for further treatment. He later succumbed to his injuries during treatment, police said.

Mahim Police said they are awaiting the rider’s blood sample report to determine whether he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.

Based on a complaint filed by Ashok Tandel, Mahim Police have registered a case against Dhruv Manoj Gurav under Sections 106(1) and 281 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and relevant provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Police alleged that Gurav was riding the motorcycle in a rash and negligent manner at high speed, leading to the fatal collision.

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Crime

Hyderabad Police officer suspended on allegation of sexually exploiting woman

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Hyderabad, July 29: Station House Officer (SHO) of Jubilee Hills Police Station in Hyderabad has been suspended following allegations of sexually exploiting a woman and blackmailing and threatening her.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar issued orders suspending Station House Officer U. Srinivasulu Reddy. An announcement to this effect was made late on Tuesday night.

Following the allegations by a 31-year-old woman from Sangareddy district, the officer was sent to the Vacancy Reserve. After the preliminary investigation, the Commissioner ordered his suspension, pending a departmental inquiry.

The woman had complained to the Director General of Police (DGP) C.V. Anand that Srinivasulu sexually assaulted her, forced her to undergo an abortion and threatened her. She also accused him of physically assaulting her.

She alleged that the SHO was blackmailing her by threatening to post her personal videos and demanding that she pay Rs 2 crore. She claimed she had paid several thousands of rupees on different occasions.

The incident dates back to 2021, when she approached Ameenpur police station over a family dispute. Srinivasulu was then serving as an inspector there. She alleged that he later contacted her regarding the case and gradually demanded sexual favours.

The woman alleged that Srinivasulu later asked her to visit his residence in KPHB and, when she refused, he threatened to come to her house. She alleged that he later sexually assaulted her at his residence. She also claimed that he took her to a hospital when she became pregnant, where she underwent an abortion.

The woman also alleged that Srinivasulu had paid Rs 25 lakh to get posted as Jubilee Hills SHO.

Reddy, who was posted as SHO of Jubilee Hills just four months ago, denied the allegations. He reportedly told senior officials that the woman threatened him and extorted money from him.

Police are likely to record the statements of both the suspended officer and the complainant as part of the investigation into the allegations.

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