TL;DR: Indian media's coverage of Operation Sindoor in May 2025 was a masterclass in bias and misinformation. TV channels declared victory before the conflict ended, aired video game footage as real strikes, and created a "parallel reality" divorced from facts. 68% of BOOM Live's fact-checks that month were Operation Sindoor-related. Even India's Chief of Defense Staff admitted 15% of military time was spent countering fake news. Both Indian and Pakistani media fueled misinformation, but the lesson is clear: in times of crisis, nationalist fervor should never trump factual accuracy.
In May 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor—a series of precision strikes against Pakistan-based terror camps following the devastating Pahalgam terrorist attack. It was the most significant India-Pakistan military conflict in decades, and it put Indian media to its greatest test yet.
The media failed spectacularly.
What unfolded on Indian television screens was not journalism—it was a "parallel reality" of hyper-nationalist theatrics, unverified claims, and outright misinformation. This analysis examines how bias distorted coverage of a genuine national security event, and what news consumers can learn from this media meltdown.
The Pahalgam Attack: How It Started
On April 22, 2025, terrorists opened fire on unarmed tourists in the scenic Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. Several visitors lost their lives in what became one of the deadliest terror attacks in recent Indian history.
The nation mourned. And then, on May 7-10, the Indian Army and Air Force responded with Operation Sindoor—surgical strikes on targets in Pakistan that culminated in a ceasefire agreement on May 10.
This was genuine, verified news. What followed on Indian TV channels was anything but.
The "Parallel Reality" on Indian Television
Victory Declared Before the Battle Ended
Television news channels across the political spectrum indulged in hyper-nationalistic theatrics, with some virtually declaring victory and Pakistani surrender on live TV—long before the conflict had actually concluded.
Anchors breathlessly reported "major victories" and "Pakistan on its knees" while military operations were still ongoing. The competitive pressure to be first overwhelmed any journalistic caution.
Fake Visuals and Video Game Footage
Sensational claims proliferated. Anchors and ticker headlines falsely reported: - Coups in Pakistan that never occurred - Airstrikes on targets that weren't hit - "Major destruction" in Karachi and Islamabad—entirely unverified
Video game footage and old war videos were passed off as real combat footage.
One anchor dramatically proclaimed: "Karachi is seeing its worst nightmare since 1971… It completely finishes Pakistan"—without a shred of evidence.
The Misinformation Epidemic
The scale of fake news was staggering:
| Metric | Finding |
|---|---|
| BOOM Live fact-checks | 68% of May 2025 fact-checks were Operation Sindoor-related |
| Military resources diverted | India's Chief of Defense Staff admitted 15% of operational time was spent countering fake news |
| Media frames | In a sample of 150 TV news items, 65% conveyed anger and 55% conveyed pride |
| Civilian casualties mentioned | Only 5% of coverage mentioned loss of civilian lives |
Even channels typically seen as more balanced—like NDTV—aired reports of "major destruction" in Pakistani cities that were entirely unverified.
Why Did Media Coverage Go So Wrong?
1. Competitive Pressure Over Accuracy
Journalists describe frantic newsroom atmospheres during the conflict:
"First you keep saying, 'Give an update, give an update,' and then later you say, 'Why did you give something fake?'"
In the absence of timely official briefings from the military, speculation filled the void. The race to be first crushed the commitment to be right.
2. Nationalist Fervor as Editorial Policy
Many channels chose alignment with the government's narrative—both out of ideology and fear of reprisal—over skepticism. Questioning the military operation's success or highlighting Pakistani counter-claims was seen as "anti-national."
As one media critic noted, this was "the most dangerous version" of habits a decade in the making—"Frankenstein's monsters, completely out of control."
3. Emotional Framing Over Facts
Research on Operation Sindoor coverage found deeply troubling patterns:
- 65% of TV news items conveyed anger
- 55% conveyed pride
- Strong nationalist and anti-Pakistan framing was the norm
- Only 5% mentioned loss of civilian lives
The coverage was designed to make viewers feel patriotic rage, not to inform them about what was actually happening.
Channel-by-Channel Breakdown
Republic TV & Zee News: The Nationalist Cheerleaders
Republic TV and Zee News doubled down on nationalist, pro-establishment coverage. These channels: - Unabashedly cheered the government's actions - Presented fiction as fact - Declared Pakistani defeat before any such outcome was confirmed - Used inflammatory language and war-room aesthetics
Republic TV is described by media analysts as "unapologetically supportive of the ruling BJP", and this bias was on full display during Operation Sindoor.
Times Now Navbharat: Hindi Hardline
The Hindi arm of Times Now joined the nationalist fervor, repeatedly airing unverified claims about Pakistani cities being destroyed. The channel had already been sanctioned by the NBDSA for inflammatory content prior to Operation Sindoor.
NDTV: Even the Balanced Slipped
Notably, even NDTV—typically seen as more balanced and critical—aired some unverified reports during the conflict. This demonstrates how competitive pressure and nationalist sentiment can affect even outlets with stronger editorial standards.
However, NDTV did course-correct faster than most, and its post-conflict analysis was more measured and self-critical.
Print Media: Slightly More Cautious
Print outlets like The Hindu and Indian Express showed more restraint than television, but even they struggled with the information vacuum. However, their longer news cycles allowed for more fact-checking before publication.
The Fact-Checkers' Nightmare
Fact-checking organizations were overwhelmed during Operation Sindoor:
BOOM Live raced to debunk fake videos and phony "breaking news"—even when those claims originated from mainstream news outlets. Their May 2025 workload was unprecedented, with 68% of all fact-checks related to the conflict.
Alt News similarly struggled to keep up with the volume of misinformation flowing from both social media and television news.
The irony? Fact-checkers were debunking claims made by the very news channels Indians were watching for "reliable" information.
Pakistan's Media Was Just as Bad
It's important to note: misinformation was not an India-only problem. Pakistani media and even officials pushed equally false claims:
- India had bombed Afghan territory (false)
- Indian forces suffered massive losses (exaggerated)
- The strikes had failed to hit any targets (false)
The Indian government eventually issued public rebuttals to Pakistani propaganda, clarifying what had actually happened.
Both countries' media were guilty of bolstering their national narratives at the expense of truth. The "parallel realities" on Indian and Pakistani TV bore little resemblance to each other—or to actual events.
Government Response: Too Little, Too Late
The Indian government did take some steps to rein in the media frenzy:
- Advisories to TV networks to stop using fake "air raid siren" sound effects
- Public debunking of Pakistani propaganda
- Official briefings (though these came too slowly)
However, by the time official information was released, the damage was done. False narratives had already taken hold in the public imagination.
The Lasting Damage
Erosion of Trust
The Operation Sindoor coverage further eroded public trust in Indian media. When viewers later learned that much of what they watched was exaggerated or false, it deepened cynicism about news media in general.
National Security Implications
The Chief of Defense Staff's admission that 15% of military operational time was spent countering fake news reveals a serious national security concern. Misinformation from Indian media wasn't just a journalism problem—it was actively hampering military operations.
Historical Distortion
As one analysis noted, historians may spend more time dissecting "the battle of narratives… as opposed to actual battles" in this conflict. The media's version of Operation Sindoor has become its own story, separate from what actually occurred.
Lessons for News Consumers
1. Be Skeptical During Crises
When nationalist passions run high, so does misinformation. The more emotionally charged a story, the more carefully you should verify it.
2. Wait for Official Confirmation
During active military operations, initial reports are almost always incomplete or wrong. Wait for official briefings rather than trusting breathless live coverage.
3. Check Multiple Sources
If only Indian channels are reporting a "Pakistani surrender" but no international outlets are, that's a red flag.
4. Follow Fact-Checkers
BOOM Live, Alt News, and other fact-checking organizations work overtime during crises. Follow them for real-time debunking.
5. Recognize Emotional Manipulation
When news coverage makes you feel extreme anger, fear, or triumphant pride—pause. Those emotions are often the goal, not a byproduct of informing you.
How The Balanced News Approach Differs
At The Balanced News, we believe readers deserve to see how different outlets cover the same story. During events like Operation Sindoor, this means:
- Showing you left, right, and center coverage side by side
- AI-powered bias detection that flags emotionally loaded language
- Lens Scores that reveal each article's political leaning
- Multiple perspectives so you can form your own informed view
We don't tell you what to think. We show you how media outlets are trying to shape your thinking.
Conclusion: When Patriotism Trumps Truth
Operation Sindoor was a legitimate military success. India responded to terrorism with precision strikes and achieved its operational objectives.
But the media coverage of Operation Sindoor was a catastrophic failure. TV channels created a "parallel reality" of premature victory declarations, fake visuals, and nationalist hysteria that bore little resemblance to actual events.
The lesson is stark: in times of crisis, audiences must critically evaluate sensational claims. Patriotic fervor should never trump factual accuracy. When it does, everyone loses—including the nation that media claims to serve.
The Operation Sindoor coverage demonstrated why a more balanced, evidence-based approach to news is crucial, even—or especially—when nationalist passions run high.
Want to see how different outlets cover breaking news? Try The Balanced News app—we show you left, right, and center perspectives on every major story, with AI-powered bias detection.
Sources & Citations
- Carnegie Endowment for International Peace - Military Lessons from Operation Sindoor
- IFJ Blog - Operation Sindoor and the Two Wars - Real and Imagined
- Washington Post - How Misinformation Overtook Indian Newsrooms
- PSSR Research - Media Frames Analysis of Operation Sindoor Coverage
- PIB - Government Debunks Pakistani Propaganda
- VIF India - How Islamabad Spun the Global Narrative
- The Federal - Highs and Lows of Indian Media in 2025
- BOOM Live - Operation Sindoor Fact-Checks
