Code Of Ethics

Code of Ethics for Digital News Publishing

Publisher: Digital Pradesh

Editorial responsibility: Digital Pradesh Team

Digital Pradesh is committed to responsible, accurate, fair and independent digital journalism. This Code of Ethics sets out the editorial principles and professional standards that guide the gathering, verification, publication, correction and presentation of news and current-affairs content on our website.

This Code seeks to promote public trust, editorial accountability, freedom of expression and responsible journalism while respecting the Constitution of India and applicable laws.

1. Applicable Laws and Journalistic Standards

Digital Pradesh endeavours to comply with the laws applicable to its operations and published content, including the Constitution of India, the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, as amended, and other applicable legislation.

Our editorial standards take account of recognised journalistic principles, including the Norms of Journalistic Conduct issued by the Press Council of India, insofar as applicable, and relevant laws governing defamation, copyright, privacy, contempt of court, child protection and reporting of criminal proceedings.

References to criminal law shall be read in accordance with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, and other applicable laws, including transitional provisions where relevant.

2. Editorial Independence and Professional Conduct

Digital Pradesh seeks to maintain editorial independence in the selection, verification, preparation and publication of news. Editorial decisions should be guided by public interest, relevance, accuracy and journalistic responsibility.

Commercial interests, advertising relationships, political affiliations and personal interests should not improperly influence editorial decisions. Contributors and editors are expected to act professionally, distinguish fact from opinion and disclose material conflicts of interest where appropriate.

Paid promotional material, sponsored content and advertising should be distinguishable from independent editorial reporting.

3. Accuracy, Verification, Transparency and Fairness

Digital Pradesh takes reasonable steps to verify information before publication. Reports should be based on credible sources, documentary evidence, direct observation or other appropriate methods of verification.

Avoid publishing information that is knowingly false, misleading, baseless or materially distorted.
Verify significant allegations through reliable evidence and, where reasonably practicable, independent sources.
Attribute information to its source where appropriate.
Distinguish verified facts from allegations, estimates, analysis, commentary and speculation.
Correct material factual errors transparently.
Avoid misleading headlines, distorted context or images that materially misrepresent an event.

Where information remains unverified, the report should communicate that limitation rather than present the information as established fact.

4. Right of Reply and Fair Representation

When a report contains material allegations against an identifiable person, organisation or institution, Digital Pradesh endeavours to seek and fairly represent the concerned party’s response before publication, where reasonably practicable.

The absence of a response does not automatically prevent publication of a matter of legitimate public interest, provided the report is adequately verified and the circumstances are fairly explained.

If a response is received after publication, or material developments occur, the report may be updated as appropriate. Significant corrections or updates should be identified clearly, including the date of the update where warranted.

5. Corrections, Updates and Removal Requests

Digital Pradesh recognises the importance of correcting material inaccuracies and addressing legitimate complaints about published content.

A person requesting a correction or review should identify the relevant article or URL, explain the alleged error and provide supporting information or documents where available. Requests may be submitted through our Contact Us page.

After considering the request and available evidence, Digital Pradesh may:

Correct inaccurate information or clarify a passage.
Add an appropriate update or the response of a concerned party.
Remove or redact information where justified by law, privacy, safety or editorial considerations.
Unpublish or remove an article where the circumstances warrant such action.

A correction request will be assessed on its merits. Disagreement with an editorial opinion, a properly attributed allegation or an accurate report does not by itself establish that the content is false.

6. Copyright and Intellectual Property Rights

Digital Pradesh respects copyright, trademarks and other intellectual property rights. Third-party text, photographs, illustrations, videos, graphics, documents and other material shall not be reproduced without an appropriate legal basis, permission or other authorisation where required.

Where third-party material is used, Digital Pradesh endeavours to provide appropriate attribution and comply with applicable licence terms and restrictions.

Intellectual property complaints may be submitted through the Contact Us page. Please identify the material concerned, provide its URL and explain the basis of the claim. Supporting documentation may be requested.

Substantiated complaints will be reviewed, and appropriate action may include correction, attribution, restriction or removal where warranted. Applicable legal exceptions and permitted uses remain unaffected.

7. Responsible Reporting of Crime and Judicial Proceedings

Crime reporting shall be based on verified information and handled with care, accuracy and restraint. A person accused of an offence shall not be presented as having been convicted unless a competent court has entered the relevant conviction.

Reports should distinguish allegations, arrests, charges, evidence, judicial findings and final outcomes. Digital Pradesh endeavours to avoid sensationalism and unsupported speculation about evidence, witnesses or judicial proceedings.

Reporting concerning courts and legal proceedings should accurately reflect the available record, orders and statements. Applicable restrictions, including those concerning confidential proceedings, sealed records and publication, must be respected.

8. Sensitive Reporting and Protection of Vulnerable Persons

Special care shall be exercised when reporting matters involving sexual offences, sexual harassment, children, domestic violence, trafficking, communal conflict, caste-based violence, matrimonial disputes and other sensitive subjects.

Digital Pradesh shall comply with applicable legal restrictions on the disclosure of identities and identifying particulars, particularly those relating to children and victims of sexual offences.

Names, photographs, addresses, workplaces, family details and other information that could identify a protected person shall not be published where prohibited by law or where publication would create an unjustified risk of harm.

Reports concerning communal, religious or caste-related matters should be carefully verified and presented without inflammatory generalisations, dehumanising language or unsupported attribution of collective blame.

9. Privacy and Personal Information

Digital Pradesh respects individual privacy and recognises that information being publicly available does not automatically make every use of that information appropriate.

Personal information shall be handled in accordance with applicable law and our Privacy Policy. The collection, use or publication of personal information should have an appropriate editorial or operational justification.

Particular care shall be taken when reporting about private individuals, children, victims, witnesses and persons who are not public figures. Digital Pradesh considers relevance, accuracy, sensitivity and potential consequences while balancing privacy with legitimate public interest and freedom of expression.

10. Use of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Media

Digital Pradesh may use technological tools, including artificial intelligence, to assist with research, transcription, translation, summarisation, image production and other editorial tasks. The use of such tools does not remove editorial responsibility for published material.

Appropriate verification should be undertaken before AI-assisted content is published as factual reporting. Synthetic, altered or manipulated images, audio or video shall not be presented in a manner that knowingly misleads readers about real events or persons. Material alterations should be disclosed where necessary to avoid deception or where required by applicable law.

11. Grievance Redressal

Digital Pradesh encourages readers and affected persons to raise genuine concerns about the accuracy, fairness, privacy implications or legality of published content.

Complaints should identify the relevant article or URL, explain the nature of the grievance and include supporting material where available. Readers may contact the Digital Pradesh Team through the Contact Us page.

Complaints shall be assessed in accordance with applicable law and the grievance-redressal arrangements applicable to Digital Pradesh. Where a statutory or applicable regulatory procedure prescribes a process or timeline, that procedure shall prevail.

Reference to the Digital Pradesh Team is a general editorial contact and does not, by itself, represent the appointment of a statutory grievance officer or designated regulatory contact.

12. Editorial Accountability and Continuous Improvement

The Digital Pradesh Team endeavours to maintain editorial standards through appropriate verification, editorial oversight, correction procedures and awareness of relevant legal developments.

Where a material error is established, appropriate corrective action should be taken without unnecessary delay. The nature of the correction should be proportionate to the error and the circumstances of publication.

This Code may be reviewed and updated to reflect changes in law, recognised journalistic standards, technology and editorial practice.

13. Scope and Interpretation

This Code sets out the editorial principles adopted by Digital Pradesh. It should be read consistently with applicable Indian law and any binding directions or orders of a competent authority or court.

Nothing in this Code guarantees that every complaint will result in removal, correction or publication of a response. Editorial decisions remain subject to applicable law, factual circumstances and legitimate public-interest considerations.

The Digital Pradesh Team remains committed to responsible journalism, accuracy, fairness, transparency and respect for the rights and dignity of individuals.

For editorial queries, corrections or complaints, please visit Contact Us.