Latest news with #MinistryofElectronicsandIT
Hans India
19-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
UIDAI shares non-personal Aadhaar dashboard data to promote transparency
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on Monday said it has begun sharing non-personal, anonymised data from the Aadhaar Dashboard on the open government data platform called The move aims to further promote transparency, research, and data-driven policy making, said the Ministry of Electronics and IT in a statement. The datasets, released by Chief Data Officer (CDO) and Deputy Director General of UIDAI, include aggregated insights on Aadhaar enrolment, updates, and authentication patterns, categorised by geography, age-group and other relevant parameters. According to the IT Ministry, by making these non-personal and anonymised datasets accessible, UIDAI aims to support academic research, innovation in digital services, and collaborative developments. 'This initiative opens new avenues for evidence-based policy-making and technological innovation, furthering UIDAI's commitment to transparency, public good, and secure data governance,' it added. It also aligns with the broader government vision of fostering evidence-based policy making and maximising the value of open data for the public good. It is expected to further boost digital inclusion and governance efficiency. Meanwhile, the total number of Aadhaar authentication transactions have crossed the 150 billion (15,011.82 crore) mark. Moreover, the total number of eKYC transactions (37.3 crore) carried out during April is 39.7 per cent more than the numbers during the same period last year. The cumulative number of e-KYC transactions has crossed 2,393 crore as on April 30, according to the Ministry of Electronics and IT. In April alone, almost 210 crore Aadhaar authentication transactions were carried out, nearly 8 per cent more than the same month in 2024, informed the ministry. More than 100 entities, both in the government and private sectors, are using face authentication for the smooth delivery of benefits and services. In FY25, Aadhaar number holders carried out more than 2,707 crore authentication transactions in 2024-25.
Indian Express
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Inside an election time govt social media cell that was converted to a 24/7 war room post Op Sindoor
Following India's targeted strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir on the intervening night of May and May 7, and the subsequent military escalation that ensued between the two countries, social media became a battleground of information warfare. Fake information, deepfake visuals and footage from video games run amok on platforms like X and Instagram. In response, a small team at the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), which was set up last year during the Lok Sabha polls to flag and takedown election-related misinformation on social media platforms, promptly received personnel reinforcement and was asked to step up monitoring and flagging misleading content related to the conflict to be taken down. The monitoring happened round the clock, with people working across shifts. On May 9, two days after the military escalation between India and Pakistan, the IT Ministry expanded its election time content monitoring cell and converted it into a war room for Section 69(A) of the Information Technology Act, the legislation which allows the Central government to issue content blocking orders to social media companies, The Indian Express has learnt. The group, which included at least 19 people, including those possessing technical know-how across the ministry and the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (Cert-In), had a clear mandate: to block Pakistani sponsored social media content under section 69A of IT Act. The group flagged for takedown content and accounts spreading misleading information on the Internet – and tens of thousands of social media accounts were blocked in the process. Several websites were also blocked. The group received inputs from various central and state agencies as well, along with its own round-the-clock monitoring of social media. In times of uncertainty, online disinformation campaigns often act as a strategic ploy to capture the narrative war. Such campaigns—which have become routine now on social media platforms that have been unable to curb the sheer number of misleading content on their sites—have been used in previous and ongoing conflicts as well, such as the Israeli strikes on Gaza, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. During the military escalation between India and Pakistan, the government carried out a coordinated effort to tackle misleading information online, even as many questioned the clamour that was spreading particularly on Indian news channels. The Press Information Bureau's (PIB's) fact check unit has fact checked several viral claims related to the airstrikes which were being made online. One such post contained a letter written by a scientist at DRDO about an alleged failure in BrahMos missile components. The fact check unit clarified that no such scientist works at DRDO and the letter is fake. Several old visuals showing a crashed aircraft were also circulating online with the claim that Pakistan recently shot down an Indian Rafale jet near Bahawalpur during the ongoing, which the PIB unit has deemed to be fake. Some accounts, however, were caught in the crossfire. It is worth noting that all the blocking action was not necessarily targeted at Pakistan-based sources, but some international media and Indian media were also temporarily blocked online. For instance, BBC Urdu and Outlook India's X handles were blocked but were later restored. 'When one is carrying out a clean-up exercise at such a large scale, some errors can happen. We quickly restored some accounts that were inadvertently blocked,' a senior government official said. Last week, Elon-Musk owned X also said it received executive orders from the Indian government requiring the company to block over 8,000 accounts in India, including those belonging to 'international news organisations and prominent X users'. The company said that falling foul of the executive orders could subject the company to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment of its local employees. X's statement offered a rare view into the expanse of the online blocking being carried out by the Indian government to ward off misinformation post the Pahalgam terror attack last month, and the following military escalation between India and Pakistan. It is worth noting that X's government affairs handle which posted about the blocking orders was also later blocked in India for a brief period before being restored. Soumyarendra Barik is Special Correspondent with The Indian Express and reports on the intersection of technology, policy and society. With over five years of newsroom experience, he has reported on issues of gig workers' rights, privacy, India's prevalent digital divide and a range of other policy interventions that impact big tech companies. He once also tailed a food delivery worker for over 12 hours to quantify the amount of money they make, and the pain they go through while doing so. In his free time, he likes to nerd about watches, Formula 1 and football. ... Read More
News18
14-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
TRT's Propaganda Push: India Flags Turkish Broadcaster For Anti-India, Pro-Pakistan Narratives
Last Updated: TRT—viewed as a mouthpiece for Erdoğan's foreign policy—has amplified anti-India propaganda through media outputs aligning with Pakistani and Chinese strategic narratives India, in a significant escalation of its clampdown on foreign propaganda, has moved decisively against Turkish state-owned broadcaster TRT, accusing it of running coordinated disinformation campaigns targeting the nation's internal stability and global standing. According to top cyber intelligence officials, TRT—widely viewed as a mouthpiece for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's foreign policy—has amplified anti-India propaganda through a series of media outputs aligning with Pakistani and Chinese strategic narratives. The broadcaster's content, particularly on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, has triggered national security concerns and prompted regulatory action under India's stringent IT Rules, 2021. TRT has been accused of relentlessly portraying India as an 'occupying force" in Kashmir, particularly through its controversial series 'Kashmir Under Siege". The programme paints the Union Territory as being under illegal military control, echoing Islamabad's long-standing position. The channel has repeatedly highlighted alleged human rights violations by Indian security forces and has given a platform to Kashmiri separatists and Pakistani officials, thereby undermining India's sovereignty. Foreign Influence Network and Information Warfare Beyond Kashmir, TRT has been found to echo Chinese and Pakistani narratives on other sensitive issues. These include: *Casting doubt on India's claims in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh *Justifying cross-border terrorism as 'freedom struggles" *Supporting Pakistan's nuclear posturing and aggressive rhetoric Islamophobia Frame: Selective Storytelling TRT's editorial line consistently frames India as an Islamophobic state, focusing heavily on domestic policies like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC), and the Hijab controversy. Intelligence reports suggest the channel selectively amplifies fringe incidents, portraying them as evidence of systemic oppression, thereby fueling communal discord both domestically and internationally. Grounds for Action Against TRT Indian authorities have cited multiple reasons for targeting TRT and its affiliates: 1. National Security Concerns: TRT's content was deemed to incite unrest, particularly in volatile regions like Kashmir. Intelligence inputs highlighted how some videos and articles circulated during communal tensions could radicalise youth and disrupt public order. 2. Disinformation and Fake News: During the 2020 Delhi riots, TRT-affiliated accounts reportedly circulated misleading footage and unverified claims, including accusations of state-sponsored violence against Muslims—claims that were later debunked. 3. IT Rules Violations: The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) flagged TRT for non-compliance with India's IT Rules (2021), including: *Failure to appoint a grievance redressal officer. *Ignoring takedown protocols. *Repeated dissemination of anti-India propaganda and manipulated content. 4. Diplomatic Overreach: India views TRT's coverage as part of Ankara's broader interference campaign. Turkey's routine raising of the Kashmir issue at international forums like the UNGA and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has only worsened bilateral tensions. TRT's editorial strategy is perceived as an extension of this diplomatic hostility. A Message of Zero Tolerance Sources within the Ministry of External Affairs indicated that the action against TRT sends a clear signal: India will not tolerate foreign media outlets acting as proxies for adversarial governments under the guise of journalism. 'Freedom of the press cannot be a cover for geopolitical subversion," said a senior official on condition of anonymity. As India sharpens its response to information warfare, TRT's case is expected to set a precedent for how the country handles foreign media that cross into the realm of hostile influence operations. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : China IT Rules 2021 Operation Sindoor pakistan TRT turkey Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: May 14, 2025, 15:47 IST
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
X accounts of China's Global Times, Xinhua blocked in India
The X accounts of Global Times and Xinhua on Wednesday (May 14, 2025) showed that it has been withheld in India in response to a legal request. An email query sent to the Ministry of Electronics and IT elicited no immediate reply in this regard. This development comes in the backdrop of Beijing announcing Chinese names for some places in Arunachal Pradesh, which it claims as southern part of Tibet. Meanwhile, India on Wednesday (May 14, 2025) outrightly rejected as 'vain and preposterous' the renaming and said such attempts will not alter the 'undeniable' reality that the state 'was, is, and will' always remain an integral part of India. 'We have noticed that China has persisted with its vain and preposterous attempts to name places in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh,' External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. 'Consistent with our principled position, we reject such attempts categorically,' he said. Upon opening the X accounts of Global Times and China Xinhua News, the message 'Account Withheld' is displayed. On May 8, 2025, X received executive orders from the Indian government requiring it to block over 8,000 accounts in India, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment of the company's local employees, a statement by its Global Government Affairs said. The orders include demands to block access in India to accounts belonging to international news organisations and prominent X users. On May 7, India's Embassy in China had rebuked the Chinese media outlet Global Times for reporting that Pakistan's military shot down an Indian fighter jet and advised verifying facts and sources before publishing such reports. 'Dear @globaltimesnews, we would recommend you verify your facts and cross-examine your sources before pushing out this kind of disinformation,' the Embassy of India in Beijing, China, said on X.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
CBSE Class 12 result 2025 Toppers: Check names, marks, percentage & other key details
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Tuesday announced the 2025 Class 10 and Class 12 examination results, with 88.39% of students clearing the exams successfully. #Operation Sindoor The damage done at Pak bases as India strikes to avenge Pahalgam Why Pakistan pleaded to end hostilities Kashmir's Pahalgam sparks Karachi's nightmare Since last year, the CBSE has discontinued the practice of announcing toppers for the Class 10 and Class 12 examinations. This year, girls have outshone boys by over 5 percentage points in the CBSE Class 12 board exams, according to Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj. ALSO READ: CBSE Result 2025 Alternate Websites: From DigiLocker to UMANG app and more, different ways to check Class 12 results This year, the board exams were conducted across 7,842 centres in India and abroad, covering 84 subjects for Class 10 and 120 for Class 12. CBSE has advised students to access their scorecards and certificates only through verified and secure platforms. All digital documents released will be considered legally valid for higher education and employment purposes. Official platforms to download CBSE results and scorecards Students must use designated channels to check and download their CBSE results. The primary websites include and Additional platforms such as DigiLocker and UMANG also provide direct access to digitally signed scorecards and certificates. To prevent misinformation and data breaches, CBSE has warned against using unofficial portals. Live Events The result will also be accessible via SMS and IVRS for those unable to access the internet. Students simply need to send 'CBSE10 ' or 'CBSE12 ' to 7738299899 or call 24300699 (with the area code) to receive their marks. Steps to check and download the CBSE Class 10 or 12 result. To view your result online: Step 1: Visit or Step 2: Click on the Class 10 or Class 12 result link on the homepage. Step 3: Enter your roll number, school number, date of birth, and admit card ID. Step 4: Submit the details to access your scorecard. Step 5: Download and save the provisional marksheet for reference. For DigiLocker access, students must log in using the mobile number linked to their Aadhaar and the 6-digit PIN provided by their schools. Once logged in, students can download their marksheet, migration certificate, and other academic documents. Digitally signed scorecards are legally valid The scorecards downloaded from DigiLocker and other official platforms are digitally signed and fully recognised for college admissions and recruitment processes. Students will be able to collect physical copies from their respective schools after the official declaration. CBSE's digital-first result delivery mechanism, supported by the Ministry of Electronics and IT, ensures efficient and secure access for lakhs of students. With the board discouraging the release of toppers' lists to avoid unhealthy competition, students are advised to focus on their own results and future academic planning.
