“The first casualty of war is truth” goes an old saying. Nationalism is about loving our country and standing proud with our people. But today we live in a “post-truth” world where false information spreads faster than ever. Social media and messaging apps are flooded with news: some true, many fake. In such times, what does it mean to be a nationalist? It means supporting our nation with truth and vigilance. We must ask: if we forward every message that praises our side or bashes the other, are we helping our country, or could we be unknowingly spreading lies? True patriotism is not about blindly believing everything we read.
To understand nationalism in the age of misinformation, let’s look at a recent example close to our hearts. In April 2025, terrorists attacked pilgrims in Pahalgam, killing 26 innocent people. In response, our forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, striking terrorist camps across the border in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. Every Indian felt proud of our Army’s swift action. But what followed was not just military retaliation from Pakistan; it was an explosion of fake news on social media.
Within hours and days of the strikes, Pakistani social media handles started spreading false news claiming big victories against India. They pushed story after story on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, trying to show that Pakistan had struck back harder. In reality, many of these claims were completely fabricated. This was a coordinated effort to confuse people and shake our confidence. While our soldiers were fighting on the ground, another battle was raging online, a battle of information.
Some of the fake stories were so outrageous that they would be laughable if they weren’t so dangerous. Here are a few examples of the misinformation spread during the event:
Fake “Indian Army Post” Attack Video: One video shared by a Pakistani account showed bodies on the ground with a voiceover saying “these Pakistanis have done a lot of damage” it claimed that Pakistan’s Army destroyed an Indian Army post. The video was later proven to be staged and completely false. Our fact-checkers even noted that the video mentioned a unit called “20 Raj Battalion” which does not exist in our Army. This was a blatant lie aimed at spreading panic.
False Strike on Amritsar Base: Another rumour came as a video posted on social media alleging a Pakistani missile strike on a military base in Amritsar with “numerous casualties.” This too, was fake. In fact, the video turned out to be footage of a wildfire from 2024, nothing to do with any attack. The government’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) quickly flagged this post as “Pakistan Propaganda” and urged people not to fall for it.
Phantom Fighter Jet Shootdowns: We also saw claims that Pakistan shot down Indian fighter jets, including our advanced Rafale. Pictures and videos were circulated showing the wreckage of the aircraft. These claims were completely false. How do we know? Because the images were from old incidents: one was from a Mig-21 crash in Punjab in 2021, and another from a helicopter crash in 2019. Pakistani accounts took old crash photos and videos and tried to pass them off as current. They wanted to boast that “we shot down India’s jets” but it was all recycled footage.
Misleading Surrender Story: Perhaps the most insulting fake story was one that tried to show Indian soldiers surrendering. An old video from 2019 showed Pakistani soldiers raising a white flag at the Line of Control (to retrieve their fallen comrades). Pakistani handles shared this video with a false caption that Indian Army troops were raising the white flag to recover the bodies of Indian soldiers. This claim was not only baseless, it flipped the truth on its head in an attempt to demoralise us.
In the race for TRPs, truth is becoming the first casualty. Up to now, we’ve focused on shadowy online rumours and enemy propaganda but what happens when our mainstream media also falters? Unfortunately, during the crisis, some news outlets forgot that their first loyalty should be to the truth, not ratings. This is a dangerous development because people trust these channels for credible information. When that trust is misused, misinformation gets an even bigger megaphone. Take the example of a purported “exclusive” video of India’s airstrikes that made the rounds on news channels. In their zeal to get a sensational story, some channels didn’t vet it properly. Leading NewsChannels, for instance, claimed India captured Islamabad, Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir was arrested and aired dramatic visuals of missiles lighting up the night sky, implying it was footage of Operation Sindoor, only for fact-checkers to later reveal that the clip was actually from an old Israeli airstrike in Gaza. It didn’t stop there. In print media, even a respected newspaper like The Hindu wasn’t immune: it briefly published an unverified report suggesting Indian Air Force jets had crashed in Kashmir, before quickly removing it when the story turned out to be baseless. These examples show how, in the heat of the moment, parts of our media ended up spreading the very falsehoods they should have been debunking. Why is this kind of sensationalism so dangerous, especially during wartime? Because when mainstream media outlets broadcast a story, people assume it’s been verified. If they prioritise TRPs over truth, they risk becoming unwitting propagandists for the enemy, or at the very least, creating a lot of noise when the nation needs clarity.
As a democracy, we strongly uphold freedom of the press – Article 19(1)(a) of our Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech and expression. But this freedom is not absolute; Article 19(2) permits reasonable restrictions for purposes like protecting the sovereignty and security of the State. Put simply, while journalists have the freedom to report and criticise, they are not free to spread false information that could endanger national security or public order. There are also journalistic codes of conduct. The Press Council of India, which sets the norms for print media, explicitly warns against publishing “inaccurate, baseless, misleading or distorted” information. On the broadcast side, the News Broadcasters Standards Authority guidelines urge channels to avoid content that “encourages or incites violence” or undermines national security. In fact, the NBSA has noted that even if provocative or unverified videos are circulating on social media, news channels have an obligation to verify content before airing it. These principles make it clear that patriotism in the press means exercising restraint and rigour, verifying news, not sensationalising it.
The challenge, however, is enforcement. Self-regulatory bodies can issue guidelines and even censure or fine offenders, but these measures are often mild. Perhaps it’s time to consider stricter enforcement or penalties for reckless wartime reporting. This doesn’t mean gagging the press or discouraging investigative journalism; it means drawing a line between responsible reporting and harmful rumour-mongering. During a national crisis, a TV channel that knowingly broadcasts fake news (or fails to retract it quickly upon discovering the truth) is betraying the public trust. Some argue that existing laws (like the Disaster Management Act or various IPC now BNS sections) could even be invoked if a news report is shown to directly incite panic or hatred. At the very least, editors and anchors should face professional consequences, such as suspension or larger fines, when they flout basic verification in situations where accuracy is a matter of national security.
The youth of India, who consume a lot of news on TV and online, should be able to look up to news professionals as models of integrity and calm, especially in a crisis. It’s often said in journalism, “when in doubt, leave it out.” That adage is never more crucial than during a conflict. The bottom line for our media can be summed up in one urgent reminder: let’s not mistake noise for news.
So, in this age of misinformation, how should we define nationalism? Nationalism is not just about chanting slogans or sharing patriotic posts. It’s about standing by our country in truth and in deed. Being a nationalist today means we refuse to be fooled by fake news, even if that fake news flatters our beliefs or insults our rivals. Likewise, if the enemy is trying to mislead us, we honour our nation by not falling into their trap. In short, nationalism in 2025 means being smart, not just emotional.
It is up to each one of us, especially the youth who practically live online, to protect the truth. Every Indian citizen can be a digital soldier for our country by doing a few simple things:
Verify Before You Share: The next time you see a shocking news snippet or a forwarded message, pause and verify it. Check if any reliable news outlets or official sources are reporting it. Often, a quick internet search or seeing if PIB’s fact-check handle has commented can save you from spreading a lie. Remember, misinformation often comes in the form of unverified “forwarded as received” messages. Don’t let your WhatsApp or Twitter become a weapon for enemy propaganda.
Trust Official Sources: In times of conflict or national crisis, rely on official statements from our government, the Army, or trusted news. Our PIB has a fact-check unit precisely for this reason. They have even given a WhatsApp number and email for people to report dubious news. Use these tools if something sounds fishy about our Armed Forces or any critical issue; report it. By doing so, you help stop the fake news from spreading further.
Educate Others: If you find a piece of news is fake, politely inform your friends or family who may have shared it. Many people spread fake news unintentionally. By educating one another, we create a chain reaction of truth telling. Encourage a healthy scepticism: it’s not “unpatriotic” to question a viral news story, in fact, it’s patriotic to ensure only the truth spreads about our country.
Stay Calm, Don’t Panic: Misinformation is designed to create panic or hatred. By staying calm and thinking critically, we defeat that purpose. For example, if we saw claims of multiple cities under attack (when they’re not), panicking would only serve the enemy’s goals.
Nationalism in the age of misinformation requires a mix of patriotism and pragmatism. We must indeed be proud Indians, celebrating our country’s victories, honouring our Army, and standing united against adversaries. At the same time, we must keep our eyes open and our wits sharp. Enemies of India, like those who spread fake news during the May 2025 conflict, want to divide us or mislead us. But we will not be divided. We will not allow lies to poison our unity or our understanding of what’s happening.
Tushar V Sharma, Assistant Professor (Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad)
Every time you choose truth over a convenient lie, you are performing an act of nationalism. Every time you stop a rumour and replace it with fact, you strengthen our nation’s fabric. In this digital era, each one of us carries the responsibility of our country’s image and morale in our pockets and keyboards. Let’s pledge to be responsible, to think before we click “share” and to always ask, “Is it true? Is it verified?” before believing any sensational claim.
Let’s all stand together to stop the spread of fake news. By doing so, we protect our country’s honour and ensure that the torch of truth burns bright, even in the storm of misinformation. That is nationalism in 2025, patriotic, grounded, and guided by truth. Let’s not mistake noise for news.
Tushar V Sharma, Assistant Professor (Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad)
