Odisha will formulate a comprehensive social media policy and establish a fact-checking mechanism to counter misinformation, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said at an orientation programme for Odisha Information Service officers in Bhubaneswar. The government also plans to create an integrated digital communication system linking district-level information offices with the state headquarters.
Majhi said the proposed system would help the government respond more quickly to public concerns and communicate information as social media and artificial intelligence reshape public discourse. He said official communication needed to evolve with changing technologies and that social media and the creator economy now played a central role in how people received and discussed information.
The chief minister asked information officers to move beyond issuing conventional press releases and work as communication professionals capable of monitoring public opinion and responding swiftly to citizens. He said government communication should follow three principles: accuracy, speed and simplicity.
“Any error in official data is unacceptable. Delay in sharing information creates a vacuum that can be exploited to spread misinformation,” Majhi said. He also urged officers to present government initiatives in language that people could easily understand.
The proposed fact-checking system is expected to address misinformation related to government programmes and public affairs, although the government has not yet announced its operating structure, legal framework, verification standards or timeline for implementation. The chief minister directed the Information and Public Relations Department to prepare proposals for strengthening the state’s social media ecosystem.
Majhi also highlighted the risks posed by deepfakes, cloned voices and fabricated videos. He said government officials should verify information before sharing it and continually improve their skills in digital media, fact-checking and content creation. He assured officers that the government would support capacity building and infrastructure development.
The chief minister further asked information officers to use storytelling alongside official statistics, including by showing how welfare schemes had affected beneficiaries’ lives. The emphasis reflects the government’s intention to make its communication more accessible and visible across digital platforms.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg said information officers should communicate welfare initiatives with honesty and commitment rather than limit themselves to disseminating information. Accurate and credible communication, she said, would help strengthen public trust in the government.
Additional Chief Secretary for Information and Public Relations Hemant Sharma described Odisha Information Service officers as the government’s key interface with citizens. The department’s proposals on digital infrastructure, staff capacity building and the proposed fact-checking mechanism will determine how the announcement is translated into an operational system.
