Mumbai: Recent reports claiming that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued notices to Hindi news channels for using excessive Urdu words are false.

The Ministry clarified on Sunday that it merely forwarded a viewer’s complaint to the concerned channels under the provisions of the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act. The channels were instructed to inform the complainant of the action taken and keep the Ministry updated, in accordance with the regulations.

The Press Information Bureau (PIB) debunked the misleading claims circulating on social media and certain websites, emphasizing that the Ministry has not issued any notices or directed channels to appoint language experts.

Social media users had posted messages suggesting that channels like Zee News, Aaj Tak, and TV9 were being targeted for their use of Urdu, but PIB confirmed that these claims were fake.

One user commented on social media, highlighting the irony, noting that even the notice itself contained Urdu words, while another compared it to the frequent use of English words in Hindi broadcasts, calling for similar action.

PIB continues to monitor and clarify misinformation related to government actions.