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Gaps in countering fake news noticed during Op Sindoor: CDS General Anil Chauhan

Chauhan also spoke about the ongoing process of theaterisation of armed forces. There have been difference of opinions in the armed forces about the process of creating the structure of theatre commands.

3 min readPuneUpdated: Jan 10, 2026 01:46 PM IST

Gaps in countering fake news noticed during Op Sindoor: CDS General Anil Chauhan

CDS General Anil Chauhan with Nitin Gokhale. (Photo credit Pune Public Policy Festival team)

One of the gaps noticed during Operation Sindoor was that the Indian Armed forces did not have a system in place to counter fake news, said Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan at the Pune Public Policy Festival on Friday. He said a system to counter such fake news is now being set up in the armed forces infrastructure.

Responding to an audience question about what the armed forces were doing regarding disinformation campaigns such as videos of the Karachi port burning that was shared during Operation Sindoor, General Chauhan said, “One of the deficiencies noticed during Operation Sindoor was that we didn’t have a system in place where we could counter fake news. Not only in social media but also in electronic media. So, now we are putting in place a system in which we will be able to counter it.”

“And this (fake news) will be refuted at best not in real time but in near real time. So, the correct news should be available to the citizens of the country. Because this has to be collected, you know, from a number of geographical locations. So, news such as… Nagrota beheading has taken place or pilots have been captured, most of them were fake actually. We should be able to put some mechanism in place for this in future.”

During the Operation, social media sites and TV news channels were flooded with unverified information including false reports of attacks on Karachi port, attacks on Islamabad, and arrest of Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, leading to a lot of confusion among citizens.

Theaterisation of armed forces

Chauhan also spoke about the ongoing process of theaterisation of armed forces. There have been difference of opinions in the armed forces about the process of creating the structure of theatre commands. Responding to host Nitin Gokhale’s question on the issue, Chauhan said, “I would say that we are almost there. Post Operation Sindoor, we wanted to get some lessons incorporated, especially regarding higher defence organizations and our involvement.”

“In Uri, there was a totally different way of functioning. In Balakot, there was a separate manner. The same was the case during Operation Sindoor, in Galwan, in Dokhlam. What could be a standard system which will work for all contingencies? I’m just giving an example. Otherwise, most of the things we have done and by and large everybody’s on board…”

After Gokhale asked if he could provide a timeline for the completion of the process, Chauhan said the government has given him an extension till May 30 and an attempt was being made to finish the process by then.

Soham Shah

Soham Shah is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in Pune. A journalism graduate with a background in fact-checking, he brings a meticulous and research-oriented approach to his current reporting. Professional Background Role: Correspondent coverig education and city affairs in Pune. Specialization: His primary beat is education, but he also maintains a strong focus on civic issues, public health, human rights, and state politics. Key Strength: Soham focuses on data-driven reporting on school and college education, government reports, and public infrastructure. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 work highlights a transition from education-centric reporting to hard-hitting investigative and human-rights stories: 1. Investigations & Governance "Express Impact: Mother's name now a must to download birth certificate from PMC site" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant policy change by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) following his earlier reports on gender inclusivity in administrative documents. "44-Acre Mahar Land Controversy: In June, Pune official sought land eviction at Pawar son firm behest" (Nov 9, 2025): An investigative piece on real estate irregularities involving high-profile political families. 2. Education & Campus Life Faculty crisis at SPPU hits research, admin work: 62% of govt-sanctioned posts vacant, over 75% in many depts (Sept 12, 2025): An investigative piece on professor vacancies at Savitribai Phule Pune University. "Maharashtra’s controversial third language policy: Why National Curriculum Framework recommends a third language from Class 6" (July 2): This detailed piece unpacks reasons behind why the state's move to introduce a third language from class 1 was controversial. "Decline in number of schools, teachers in Maharashtra but student enrolment up: Report" (Jan 2025): Analyzing discrepancies in the state's education data despite rising student numbers. 3. Human Rights & Social Issues "Aanchal Mamidawar was brave after her family killed her boyfriend" (Dec 17, 2025): A deeply personal and hard-hitting opinion piece/column on the "crime of love" and honor killings in modern India. "'People disrespect the disabled': Meet the man who has become face of racist attacks on Indians" (Nov 29, 2025): A profile of a Pune resident with severe physical deformities who became the target of global online harassment, highlighting issues of disability and cyber-bullying. Signature Style Soham is known for his civil-liberties lens. His reporting frequently champions the rights of the marginalized—whether it's students fighting for campus democracy, victims of regressive social practices, or residents struggling with crumbling urban infrastructure (as seen in his "Breathless Pune" contributions). He is adept at linking hyper-local Pune issues to larger national conversations about law and liberty. X (Twitter): @SohamShah07 ... Read More

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