The Diplomat India is committed to publishing accurate, transparent, responsible and independently edited journalism. Our editorial policy establishes the principles that guide the preparation, verification, editing and publication of our news reports, explainers, features, interviews, analysis and opinion content.
The policy applies to content published by The Diplomat India, including content produced by staff writers, contributors, correspondents, freelancers and other editorial contributors.
The Diplomat India is owned by KFAEC PRIVATE LIMITED and is registered as a periodical with the Press Registrar General of India (PRGI). Our publication and editorial practices are intended to comply with applicable Indian laws and regulations and relevant Google Search and Google News policies.
1. Accuracy and Verification
Accuracy is a fundamental principle of our journalism.
Our editorial team seeks to verify factual information before publication using appropriate and reliable sources. Depending on the nature of a story, these may include:
- Official government documents and websites
- Court records and orders
- Parliamentary and legislative documents
- Regulatory and institutional records
- Official statements and notifications
- Direct interviews and statements
- Publicly available data
- Original documents
- Reputable news agencies and publications
- Other credible and relevant sources
We seek to distinguish verified facts from allegations, claims, estimates, analysis and opinion.
When information cannot yet be independently verified, the article should make that limitation clear to readers.
2. Original and Value-Added Journalism
The Diplomat India aims to provide readers with meaningful editorial value rather than simply reproducing information already available elsewhere.
Where reporting is based on information from another publication, news agency, press release or third-party source, the source should be appropriately identified and attributed.
We do not intend to publish large quantities of substantially unoriginal material merely to increase search visibility.
Our policies prohibit scaled content abuse, including producing large amounts of unoriginal content primarily to manipulate search rankings.
3. Clear Attribution
Statements, information, quotations and claims should be attributed to their appropriate sources.
We distinguish between:
Confirmed information: Information supported by reliable evidence or authoritative sources.
Claims or allegations: Statements made by an individual, organisation or other party that have not been independently established.
Analysis: Editorial interpretation or explanation based on available information.
Opinion: A clearly identified viewpoint expressed by an author or contributor.
Attribution should not be used to present an unsupported claim as an established fact.
4. Headlines
Headlines should accurately reflect the substance of the article.
The Diplomat India does not intentionally use misleading headlines, sensational claims or headlines designed primarily to attract clicks when the underlying article does not support the impression created by the headline.
Our publishers avoid misleading content and recommends that article headlines accurately represent the underlying content.
5. Dates and Updates
Articles should display a clear publication date and time.
Where an article undergoes a significant substantive update, the updated date and time may also be displayed.
We do not intentionally change publication dates simply to make an old article appear newly published.
6. Sources and Documents
Where appropriate, articles may link to or identify relevant primary sources, official documents, reports, court orders, government notifications or other supporting material.
Sources should be selected according to the nature of the story and their relevance and reliability.
The existence of a source does not automatically establish the accuracy of every statement made by that source. Editorial review remains necessary.
7. Breaking and Developing News
During developing events, information may change rapidly.
In such cases, The Diplomat India may publish an initial report based on the information reasonably available at the time and update the article as reliable information becomes available.
Material developments should be incorporated into the article rather than creating multiple substantially identical articles solely to obtain a new publication date.
8. Corrections
The Diplomat India is committed to correcting significant factual errors.
Where a material error is identified and verified, the article may be corrected and an appropriate correction note may be added where necessary.
Readers can report potential factual errors through:
corrections@thediplomatindia.com
Our detailed procedure is available in our Corrections Policy.
9. Opinion and Analysis
Opinion and analysis are distinct from straightforward news reporting.
Opinion articles should be clearly identified as Opinion, Commentary or another appropriate designation.
The views expressed by an opinion contributor belong to the respective author unless expressly stated otherwise.
Opinion content should not be presented as independently verified news reporting.
10. Interviews and Quotations
Direct quotations should accurately represent the words or statements of the person being quoted.
Quotes should not knowingly be fabricated, materially altered or presented without appropriate context.
Where translation is necessary, reasonable care should be taken to preserve the meaning of the original statement.
11. Use of Social Media and User-Generated Information
Information obtained from social media platforms should be treated according to its reliability and relevance.
A social media post alone does not necessarily establish that an event occurred or that a claim is accurate.
Where appropriate, information from social media should be independently verified through additional sources before being presented as established fact.
12. Images, Videos and Other Media
The Diplomat India seeks to use photographs, graphics, videos and other media lawfully and responsibly.
Where applicable, appropriate attribution, licensing information or credits should be provided.
Images should not be manipulated in a manner that materially misrepresents a person, event or situation.
Illustrative or AI-generated images should not knowingly be presented as authentic photographs of real events.
13. Privacy and Personal Information
The Diplomat India respects individual privacy and seeks to avoid unnecessary publication of personal information.
Personal information should be published only when there is a legitimate editorial reason and where publication is appropriate under applicable law and journalistic standards.
Particular care should be taken with sensitive personal information, private individuals and vulnerable persons.
14. Children and Vulnerable Persons
Additional care should be taken when reporting on children, victims, survivors and other vulnerable individuals.
The identity or personal information of an individual should not be unnecessarily disclosed where doing so could create a risk of harm or violate applicable legal requirements.
15. Conflicts of Interest
Editorial contributors should disclose relevant conflicts of interest to the editorial team.
Where a journalist, contributor, owner, advertiser, commercial partner or other connected party has a material interest relevant to a story, appropriate disclosure or editorial safeguards may be required.
Commercial relationships should not be presented as independent editorial endorsements.
16. Advertising and Sponsored Content
Advertising, sponsored articles, branded content, paid promotions and other commercial material must be distinguishable from independent editorial content.
The Diplomat India does not intentionally present paid promotional material as independent journalism.
Sponsored material will be appropriately labelled, such as Sponsored, Advertisement, Brand Partner or Promoted Content, depending on the nature of the material.
Our detailed requirements are set out in the Advertising & Sponsored Content Policy.
17. Artificial Intelligence and Automated Tools
The Diplomat India may use technology, including artificial intelligence, for appropriate newsroom functions such as research assistance, transcription, translation, editing, data organisation, formatting and other support functions.
Technology does not replace editorial responsibility.
The publication does not knowingly use AI or automated systems to fabricate facts, quotations, sources or events.
AI-assisted material remains subject to appropriate editorial review before publication.
Our detailed requirements are set out in the AI & Automated Content Policy.
18. Search and Platform Integrity
The Diplomat India does not intentionally create content primarily to manipulate search-engine rankings or news-discovery systems.
We seek to follow Google’s applicable Search and Google News policies, including requirements concerning misleading content, spam, scaled content abuse, transparency and sponsored material.
Our objective is therefore to create useful, original and trustworthy journalism for readers rather than content solely designed for search engines.
19. Editorial Independence
The Diplomat India is owned by KFAEC PRIVATE LIMITED.
Ownership, advertising, sponsorship, commercial partnerships or other business relationships should not be represented as independent editorial endorsement.
Editorial decisions are made according to the publication’s editorial standards and applicable laws.
20. Legal Compliance
The Diplomat India operates subject to applicable laws and regulations governing its publication and editorial activities in India.
As a PRGI-registered periodical, the publication will comply with applicable requirements under the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023, the applicable rules and directions issued by the competent authority, and other applicable legal requirements. PRGI states that a periodical may be printed or published in India only in accordance with the PRP Act, 2023 and applicable registration requirements.
Nothing in this editorial policy is intended to replace or override applicable law.
21. Editorial Accountability
Responsibility for the editorial content published by The Diplomat India rests with the publication’s editorial structure and designated editorial personnel.
The publication provides readers with access to information about its:
- Ownership
- Publisher
- Editor
- Authors and contributors
- Editorial policies
- Corrections process
- Contact information
- Grievance mechanism
22. Policy Review
This Editorial Policy may be reviewed and updated when necessary to reflect changes in applicable law, PRGI requirements, Google policies, editorial practices or the operations of The Diplomat India.
Any material changes to this policy will be reflected on this page.
Last Updated: 16 September 2026