Quick Recap

At a high-profile celebratory dinner marking “Operation Bunyan‑un‑Marsoos” against India, Pakistan’s newly appointed Field Marshal Asim Munir gifted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a framed photo—claimed to show Pakistan’s attack. However, the image was from a 2019 Chinese military exercise, robbing the gesture of its credibility

What Really Happened

• External fact-checking revealed the photo depicted the Chinese PHL‑03 rocket launcher, used during PLA exercises circa 2017–2019
• The image circulated widely online, quickly traced through reverse image tools to Chinese military sources .

Social Media Backlash

Netizens in Pakistan and abroad called out the gaffe with viral memes and remarks:

Political & Strategic Criticism

Indian MPs, including Asaduddin Owaisi, branded Munir and Sharif “stupid jokers” (मुर्ख जोकर), criticizing the misinformation effort
The incident also intensified scrutiny over Munir’s elevation to Field Marshal shortly after the conflict with India—seen by critics as lacking in genuine military achievement

China Ties & Propaganda

Some analysts suggest using a Chinese image was a calculated move to acknowledge Pakistan’s close military alliance with China, even if it meant passing off foreign visuals to claim a domestic triumph

Amid a wave of social media posts and forwarded messages, a claim recently gained traction suggesting that June 6, 2025, is a national public holiday in India. This led to widespread confusion, particularly among students, government employees, and corporate professionals. However, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) has stepped in to clarify the truth — and the verdict is clear: June 6 is not a public holiday.

What Sparked the Confusion?

The viral message, circulated widely across WhatsApp, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter), stated that the Government of India had declared June 6 a public holiday in observance of Eid-ul-Adha (Bakrid). While the intent might have been to inform, the facts were inaccurate and misleading.

The Official Clarification

The Press Information Bureau (PIB), India’s official fact-checking arm for government-related misinformation, issued a public statement confirming that no such holiday had been declared for June 6, 2025. According to PIB:

“A message circulating on social media claims that June 6, 2025, is a public holiday declared by the government. This is fake. No such notification has been issued.”

This clarification was also supported by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions — the official authority for releasing the list of gazetted holidays.

Actual Date for Eid-ul-Adha

The confusion largely stemmed from the Eid-ul-Adha celebration, which varies based on moon sightings. For most parts of India, Eid-ul-Adha will be celebrated on Saturday, June 7, 2025. Some regions, such as Kerala, may observe the festival on a different day due to local moon sighting differences.

Why It Matters

Misinformation related to public holidays can lead to disruptions in work schedules, school operations, and travel plans. In this case, many institutions had to issue last-minute updates to clarify that June 6 would proceed as a normal working day.

How to Avoid Falling for Fake Holiday News

• Always verify with official sources such as government websites or credible news portals.
• Follow PIB Fact Check on X (@PIBFactCheck) for real-time updates on misinformation.
• Cross-check with the gazetted holiday list released annually by the government.

On March 20, 2024, the Government of India officially designated the Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check Unit (FCU) as the authorized fact-checking body under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (IT Rules 2021). This move aims to combat the spread of misinformation related to the Central Government’s activities across digital platforms

Legal Framework and Mandate

The notification, issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), empowers the PIB FCU to identify and flag online content that is “fake,” “false,” or “misleading” concerning any business of the Central Government. This authority is granted under sub-clause (v) of sub-rule (1) of Rule 3 of the IT Rules 2021

Operational Scope

Established in November 2019, the PIB FCU’s primary objective is to deter the creation and dissemination of fake news and misinformation pertaining to the Government of India. The unit actively monitors, detects, and counters disinformation campaigns, ensuring that false information about the government is promptly exposed and corrected

Implications for Digital Platforms

Under the IT Rules 2021, intermediaries like social media platforms are obligated to make reasonable efforts to not host or publish information that has been identified as false by the government’s fact-check unit. Failure to comply may result in the loss of “safe harbour” protections, which shield platforms from liability for user-generated content

Public and Legal Reactions

The notification has sparked debates concerning press freedom and potential censorship. Critics, including the Editors Guild of India and the News Broadcasters & Digital Association, argue that granting the government authority to determine the veracity of information could suppress dissent and legitimate criticism

Legal challenges have been mounted against the notification. Notably, comedian Kunal Kamra filed a petition in the Bombay High Court, contending that the amendments could be used to silence government critics under the guise of combating fake news .

The Supreme Court of India has since stayed the Union Government’s notification on the PIB Fact Check Unit, citing concerns over freedom of speech and expression .

Conclusion

The formal notification of the PIB’s Fact Check Unit under the IT Rules 2021 represents the government’s intensified efforts to address misinformation related to its operations. However, the move has ignited significant discourse on the balance between combating fake news and upholding democratic freedoms. As legal proceedings continue, the ultimate impact of this development on India’s information ecosystem remains to be seen.