Government Clarifies: No Ban On Urdu Usage In Hindi News Broadcasts

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has dismissed circulating reports that it has issued notices to Hindi news channels for using excessive Urdu words and directed them to appoint language experts.

The claim, widely shared on social media and some media outlets, is misleading, according to the government.

The Ministry clarified that its action relates solely to forwarding a viewer’s complaint to the concerned channels under the provisions of the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act.

The Ministry has not issued any directives regarding the use of Urdu in broadcasts or the appointment of language experts.

Channels Required to Respond

Under the regulations, the channels must inform the complainant about the steps they have taken in response to the grievance and update the Ministry accordingly.

This process ensures transparency and accountability in handling viewer complaints but does not impose any restrictions on linguistic content.

The Press Information Bureau (PIB) labelled the social media posts and reports as #Misleading.

Taking to X, PIB Fact Check posted, “It is being claimed in certain media reports and social media posts that @MIB_India has issued notices to Hindi news channels for using excessive Urdu words in their broadcasts, and has directed them to appoint language experts. #PIBFactCheck This claim is #Misleading The Ministry has forwarded a viewer’s complaint to the concerned channels under the provisions of the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act.”

It emphasised that the Ministry’s communication was procedural, rather than prescriptive, concerning language usage on television news channels.

The clarification underscores the Ministry’s adherence to regulatory protocols while countering misinformation circulating online. It also highlights the distinction between forwarding complaints for resolution and issuing directives on editorial content.

By confirming that it has not issued any notices regarding Urdu words or language experts, the MIB reaffirms its commitment to report facts fairly and accurately, keeping viewers and news organisations properly informed.

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