FCN Signatories

Website

www.newsmeter.in

Date

29/04/2025

DOWNLOAD

APPLICANT

Date: 21/02/2025

1.https://newsmeter.in/fact-check/mosque-demolished-in-uttarakhand-no-video-is-from-indonesia-745123 2.https://newsmeter.in/fact-check/amit-shah-announces-death-penalty-for-drugs-and-ragging-crimes-find-the-truth-here-745002

3.https://newsmeter.in/fact-check/nehru-said-he-is-english-by-education-muslim-by-culture-and-hindu-by-accident-heres-the-truth-744997
4.https://newsmeter.in/fact-check/fact-check-congress-worker-himami-narwal-murder-case-linked-to-love-jihad-no-accused-is-from-same-religion-744702
5.https://newsmeter.in/fact-check/sadhgurus-photo-with-daughter-goes-viral-with-misleading-claim-744502
6.https://newsmeter.in/fact-check/bjp-graduate-mlc-candidate-anji-reddy-admits-to-buying-party-ticket-for-rs-30-crore-find-the-facts-744275
7.https://newsmeter.in/fact-check/pm-cares-funds-for-free-coaching-limited-to-scs-obcs-no-here-are-the-details-744214
8.https://newsmeter.in/fact-check/muslim-man-harasses-hindu-girl-in-ups-muzaffarnagar-no-accused-is-hindu-743468
9.https://newsmeter.in/fact-check/bjp-winning-delhi-polls-due-to-muslim-vote-split-kapil-mishras-viral-clip-is-doctored-743276
10.https://newsmeter.in/fact-check/fact-check-stone-pelting-on-maha-kumbh-train-claim-of-communal-attack-is-false-743146

Demonstration of Non-Partisanship & High Standards

The selected fact checks cover a wide range of claims involving different political parties, public figures, and communal narratives. NewsMeter applies the same rigorous verification methods—including reverse image/video searches, forensic analysis, official statements, and open-source intelligence (OSINT)—regardless of the claim’s origin.

Our fact-checking process ensures that:

Each claim undergoes independent verification using primary and authoritative sources.
The same methodology is applied across political and social claims to maintain consistency.
The evidence dictates the conclusion, rather than bias or pre-existing narratives.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Fact-Checking Equivalent Claims

NewsMeter follows a standardized, transparent methodology for evaluating claims. The detailed SOP can be accessed here: https://newsmeter.in/fact-check-methodology
https://newsmeter.in/Editorial-Policy

Assessor´s verdict:

COMPLIANT

Conversation:

Assessor

COMPLIANT

Date: 18/04/2025

The applicant uses the same standards of evidence and jugement for equivalent claims, regardless of who made the claim. It also publishes a Standard Operating Procedure on its website.

APPLICANT

Date: 21/02/2025

NewsMeter is committed to transparency and ensures that any potential conflicts of interest are disclosed in our fact checks. Our methodology outlines our editorial independence and fact-checking standards, which can be accessed here: https://newsmeter.in/fact-check-methodology and here: https://newsmeter.in/Editorial-Policy

Disclosure of Expert Affiliations

In cases where we cite experts or organizations in our fact checks, we clearly disclose their affiliations, including any political or ideological ties, where relevant. If an expert has a history of association with a political party, government body, or advocacy group, this information is explicitly mentioned in the fact check to provide readers with full context.

For example:

If an expert previously held a position in a political party or government, this will be stated in the article to ensure readers are aware of their background.
If an organization cited in our fact check has any political or lobbying interests, this is disclosed along with the nature of its work.
Any financial or ideological links of sources that could influence their perspective are mentioned where relevant.

This practice ensures that our audience can assess the credibility and neutrality of the information provided, reinforcing our commitment to fair and unbiased fact-checking.

Assessor´s verdict:

COMPLIANT

Conversation:

Assessor

COMPLIANT

Date: 18/04/2025

The non-partisanship policy is clearly elaborated on the applicant's website. The applicant says that it declares interests of sources mentioned in the fact check.

APPLICANT

Date: 21/02/2025

https://newsmeter.in/fact-check-methodology

Assessor´s verdict:

COMPLIANT

Conversation:

Assessor

NEEDS MORE INFO

Date: 18/04/2025

The applicant's fact-checking methodology is available on its website. It explains how claims are selected, how they are verified, how the rating systems work, too. However, if a user were to click the words Fact Check Methodology at the bottom of the page on the website, it says 404 error. That needs to be checked.

Applicant

NEEDS MORE INFO

Date: 19/04/2025

This glitch has been fixed. Please check it now.

Assessor

COMPLIANT

Date: 20/04/2025

The applicant's fact-checking methodology is available on its website. It explains how claims are selected, how they are verified, how the rating systems work, too.

APPLICANT

Date: 21/02/2025

NewsMeter actively encourages readers to submit claims for fact-checking through multiple channels. We have a clear process outlining what types of claims can be fact-checked and what falls outside our scope.

🔹 Submission Channels:

WhatsApp Tipline: +91 7482 830 440
Email: factcheck@newsmeter.in
Website Submission Page: https://newsmeter.in/contact-newsmeter

🔹 Social Media Handles for Fact-Check Requests:

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/NewsmeterFact
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newsmeter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newsmeter.factcheck

What We Fact-Check:

Viral claims, images, and videos that could mislead the public
Political statements, government policies, and official announcements
Health-related misinformation, including medical and scientific claims
Misinformation that could incite communal or social unrest

What We Don’t Fact-Check:

Personal opinions or unverifiable rumors
Satirical or fictional content that is clearly labeled as such
Private disputes or allegations that lack public interest or verifiable evidence

This information is also available in our Fact-Check Methodology: https://newsmeter.in/fact-check-methodology

Assessor´s verdict:

COMPLIANT

Conversation:

Assessor

COMPLIANT

Date: 18/04/2025

The applicant has various ways of encouraging readers to send in claims to fact-check. The methodology makes it clear about what can be fact-checked and what cannot.

APPLICANT

Date: 21/02/2025

https://newsmeter.in/fact-check-methodology

Assessor´s verdict:

COMPLIANT

Conversation:

Assessor

NEEDS MORE INFO

Date: 18/04/2025

Since this is a first-time application, this criteria does not hold. However, the applicant has provided a link to the International Fact Checking Network's complaints page. Also, it has now provided a link to its methodology page.

Applicant

NEEDS MORE INFO

Date: 19/04/2025

We’ve outlined this under Clause 3.2 of methodology category on our website, where users are given two options to address complaints—one through our editorial team and the other via IFCN’s Code of Principles complaints mechanism. https://newsmeter.in/fact-check-methodology

Assessor

COMPLIANT

Date: 20/04/2025

Since this is a first-time application, this criteria does not hold. However, the applicant has provided a link to its methodology page and provided an email address for users to contact them in case of any corrections that need to be made.

Section 1: Eligibility to be a verified signatory This section aims to assess if an Applicant meets the eligibility criteria for becoming a verified signatory to the MCA Code of Principles.

1.1 The Applicant is legally registered in India

1.2 The Applicant's fact-checking activities have a substantial and demonstrable focus on India

1.3 The Applicant’s fact-checking has been published either in English/Hindi and/or in one of the 22 languages listed in Schedule VIII of the Constitution of India, in the course of the twelve months prior to the date of application

1.4 At least 75% of the Applicant’s fact checks must relate to issues that could have an impact on the welfare or well-being of individuals, the general public, or society, or have a public interest element

1.5 The Applicant’s editorial output must not be under the control of the state, any political party, or a politician

1.6 The Applicant must, fully and fairly, disclose if it receives funds from local or foreign state or political sources

Section 2: Non-partisanship and fairness This section aims to understand how an Applicant ensures impartiality in their fact-checking operation.

2.1 The Applicant fact-checks use the same high standards of evidence and judgement for equivalent claims, regardless of who made the claim

2.2 The Applicant does not unduly concentrate its fact-checking on any one side

2.3 The Applicant discloses on its website and/or in the fact check any reasonable conflict of interest, other relevant interests, or bias, including that of the experts or organisations cited in the fact check

2.4 The Applicant is not affiliated with nor declares or shows support for any political party, any politician or political candidate, nor does it advocate for or against any policy positions on any issues save for transparency and accuracy in public debate

2.6 The Applicant discloses any ownership or stake in its organization held by sitting members of parliament, assembly, local governments; office bearers or spokespersons of political parties; or those directly or indirectly associated with political parties

2.7 The Applicant does not employ anyone who holds a salaried and/or prominent position in a political party, government, state, or public company under the direct or indirect control of a political party, government, or the state

2.8 The Applicant only advocates for issues that are relevant to the mission of fact-checking, strengthening democracy, and improving general transparency and accountability of various organs of the state, and are compatible with the reputation for independence and impartiality

Section 3: Transparency of sources This section aims to understand how the Applicant ensures that their readers can independently verify the findings mentioned in a fact check themselves.

3.1 The Applicant identifies the source of all significant evidence used in its fact checks and provides relevant links where the source is available online

3.2 The Applicant uses the best available primary, not secondary, source of evidence

3.3 The Applicant checks all key elements of claims against more than one named source of evidence, except where the one source is the only source relevant and available on the topic

3.4 The Applicant always identifies and discloses its relevant interests, including any commercial relations, and that of its sources, in the fact checks, where the reader might reasonably conclude those interests could influence the accuracy of the evidence provided

Section 4: Transparency of funding and organisation This section aims to understand the funding sources of the Applicant and their funders' influence on editorial decisions.

4.1 The Applicant is an independent organization

4.2 The Applicant is a dedicated fact-checking section or unit in an organization

4.3 The Applicant discloses the names of persons or entities holding over 10% of the shares/stakes in it

4.4 The Applicant provides information about who runs its editorial operations and how

4.5 The Applicant provides an easy means on its website and/or via social media for users to communicate with its editorial and fact-checking team

Section 5: Transparency of methodology This section aims to understand an Applicant's methodology for selecting, researching, writing, editing, publishing and correcting their fact checks and how they encourage readers to send claims to fact-check.

5.1 The Applicant’s fact-checking methodology is available on its website

5.2 The Applicant selects claims to fact-check based on their reach and importance

5.3 The Applicant provides evidence that supports and undermines a claim, irrespective of who made the claim

5.4 The Applicant makes a demonstrable effort to contact the person/organization making the claim to seek supporting evidence

5.5 The Applicant encourages readers to send in claims to fact check

5.6 The Applicant quotes experts after establishing their credibility

5.7 The Applicant ensures each investigation undergoes at least one round of editing before publication, by someone other than the author

5.8 The Applicant presents findings in precise, factual, and non-emotive language while taking care not to overstate conclusions

Section 6: Open and honest corrections policyy This section aims to understand an Applicant's corrections policy, how it is followed, how transparent it is, and how the Applicant ensures that readers see the corrected version.

6.1 The Applicant has a corrections or complaints policy that is easily and prominently visible and accessible on its website

6.2 Where credible evidence is provided demonstrating that the Applicant has made a mistake worthy of correction, it makes the correction openly and transparently, seeking to ensure as far as possible that readers of the original see the correction and the corrected version

6.4 If the Applicant is the fact-checking unit of a media company, its parent company adopts and adheres to the same corrections policy as is being followed by the Applicant

Section 7: Intellectual property rights This section aims to understand how Applicant observes and demonstrates respect for intellectual property rights in all forms including text, image, audio or video.

7.1 The Applicant publishes all fact checks on its website, and does not keep the fact checks behind a paywall. The fact checks should be easily accessible in the public domain and without coste

7.2 The Applicant observes & respects intellectual property laws, creative commons licences, copyrights when using, modifying, and/or merging any contente

7.3 The Applicant allows, where possible & applicable, the organization’s content to be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons license with source attribution

7.5 The Applicant discloses all references and sources that have been used in the fact-check

Section 8: Commitment to privacy and safety This section aims to understand how Applicant identifies and demonstrates commitment to privacy and safety.

8.2 The Applicant is restrictive, respectful, and considerate when mentioning or identifying minors (as permitted under existing law) and makes all possible efforts to protect their privacy

8.4 The Applicant has put in place measures that aim to address the risk of trauma or harassment experienced by staff as a result of its activities, including but not limited to, providing training to prevent and identify symptoms