New Delhi: The News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) has disposed of six complaints through Orders No. 223 to 228 of 2026, with five matters ending in findings of no violation of the Code of Ethics and Broadcasting Standards, while one case involving inaccurate reporting during Operation Sindoor drew closer scrutiny from the self-regulatory body.
Among the six matters decided by the Authority on May 28, 2026, the most significant concerned reports aired by ABP News, ABP Majha and Zee News relating to the death of Qari Mohammad Iqbal during Operation Sindoor.
NBDSA Reviews Incorrect Reporting During Operation Sindoor
The complaint, filed by M. Chakravarty, challenged broadcasts that described Qari Mohammad Iqbal as a terrorist who had been killed during India’s military operation. The complainant contended that the reports were factually incorrect and cited subsequent clarifications, including those attributed to local police authorities, asserting that Iqbal was not a terrorist.
During the proceedings, Zee News acknowledged that a ticker referring to “Terrorist Qari Mohammad Iqbal killed” had been aired due to an inadvertent editorial oversight. The broadcaster informed the Authority that the content had been removed and corrective tickers had subsequently been aired. ABP also maintained that its reporting was based on information available during the rapidly evolving developments surrounding Operation Sindoor and that corrective measures were taken once clarifications emerged.
After examining the matter, NBDSA noted the factual inaccuracy in the reporting but also took into account the corrective action undertaken by the broadcasters. The Authority disposed of the complaint after considering the remedial steps and clarifications provided by the channels.
Five Other Complaints Closed Without Finding Any Violation
In the remaining five matters, the Authority found no breach of the Code of Ethics and Broadcasting Standards.
Two complaints filed by Utkarsh Mishra related to the use of the term “Love Jihad” in television coverage. One involved reporting by NDTV, News18, Zee News and ABP on the Bhopal TT College gang rape case, while the second concerned Zee News’ coverage of an interfaith marriage case in Ghaziabad. In both instances, NBDSA examined whether broadcasters had improperly framed the incidents through a communal lens. The Authority ultimately concluded that the channels were reporting allegations, protests, public reactions and statements surrounding the incidents rather than presenting the “Love Jihad” narrative as an established fact.
Another matter involved a review petition against Aaj Tak’s programme Black and White, which discussed historical claims linked to the Sambhal Jama Masjid and Ajmer Dargah. The complainant alleged that the programme amplified disputed historical narratives and fostered communal divisions. However, NBDSA found no grounds to revisit its earlier decision and upheld its previous finding that the broadcast did not violate the Code.
The Authority also dismissed a complaint against NDTV.com concerning an article that referred to Elon Musk as the head of the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). While the complainant argued that Musk was not the official administrator of the department, NBDSA observed that Musk was publicly recognised as leading the initiative and that similar terminology had been used in official communications. It concluded that no material factual violation had occurred.
In a separate case against India TV’s programme Aaj Ki Baat, the complainant challenged assertions regarding the role of the Aravalli hills in Delhi-NCR’s pollution crisis, alleging that the programme aired scientifically inaccurate information. India TV defended the broadcast as a research-backed discussion presenting one among several scientific viewpoints. NBDSA held that the broadcaster was entitled to present expert opinions and scientific interpretations, finding no evidence of deliberate misinformation or a violation of broadcast standards.
Majority of Cases End in Broadcaster Relief
The latest batch of orders indicates that while NBDSA remains willing to scrutinise factual inaccuracies and demand corrective action where warranted, it continues to accord considerable weight to context, editorial intent, corrective measures and the distinction between reporting allegations and endorsing them.
Of the six complaints decided through Orders 223 to 228 of 2026, only the Operation Sindoor-related case involved acknowledged inaccuracies, while all six ultimately concluded without punitive action, with five resulting in clear findings of no violation by the broadcasters concerned.
