Our Methodology
Every verdict we publish follows the same process — from claim selection through primary research to a two-editor review. This page explains our standards in full.
Our Verification Process
Claim selection
We select claims based on public interest and verifiability. We prioritise claims from politicians, officials, and viral posts that affect public policy. We do not fact-check private statements or satire.
Primary source research
Every fact-check starts with primary documents — government reports, court orders, official press releases, legislative records, and peer-reviewed research. We do not use media reports as primary evidence.
Expert consultation
For technical claims (medical, legal, economic), we consult domain experts before reaching a verdict. Expert names and affiliations are disclosed in the article when they have contributed substantively.
Right of response
The person or institution making the claim is contacted for comment before publication. Their response (or non-response) is noted in the article. We give 24 hours for a response on breaking claims.
Two-editor review
Every verdict is reviewed by a second editor who was not involved in the original research. The second editor must independently agree with the verdict before it publishes.
Post-publication review
If new evidence emerges, or if the original subject provides significant additional context, we reassess the verdict. A correction is published if warranted, with the full change history visible.
Our Verdict Scale
The claim is accurate and supported by primary evidence. No material omissions or distortions.
Example
India's forest cover increased by 1,985 sq km between 2019–2023 (FSI State of Forest Report 2023).
The core claim has a factual basis, but important context, caveats, or qualifiers are missing that significantly change its meaning.
Example
1 crore houses built under PM Awas Yojana — true only if you count under-construction units. 18 lakh are complete and occupied.
The statement may be technically factual, but is presented in a way designed to create a false impression. Context is selectively omitted.
Example
Showing GDP growth figures without adjusting for base effect to imply a trend that does not exist.
The claim is factually incorrect. Primary source data directly contradicts the stated claim.
Example
Farmer income doubled since 2016 — NABARD data shows 28% real income growth, not 100%.
We cannot verify the claim with available primary sources. The claim is neither confirmed nor denied.
Example
Claims about internal government communications or private meetings for which no record exists.
Primary Sources We Use
We only cite primary sources — documents produced by the original authority. We do not accept media reports, party press releases, or social media posts as evidence.
- Government of India MIS portals and press releases
- Parliamentary Q&A records (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha)
- CAG audit reports and CAG online
- RTI responses obtained by NT or publicly filed by others
- NSO / NSSO / MoSPI datasets
- Supreme Court and High Court orders (SC India website)
- NITI Aayog reports and working papers
- RBI, SEBI, IRDA official publications
- WHO, World Bank, IMF country data for India
- ICMR and government health research publications
- Forest Survey of India, CPCB, and environment ministry data
- Election Commission of India official disclosures
What We Don't Do
- We do not fact-check satire, parody, or clearly fictional content.
- We do not publish verdicts based on anonymous sources alone.
- We do not fact-check private statements not intended for public audience.
- We do not use one media outlet's report as evidence to verify another media outlet's claim.
- We do not editorially endorse political parties, candidates, or ideological positions.
- We do not adjust our verdict under pressure from subjects of our fact-checks.
Corrections Policy
If we publish an incorrect verdict or factual error, we correct it within 24 hours. Corrections are published at the top of the article with a timestamp and a clear explanation of what was wrong and what the correct information is. We do not silently edit articles.
To report a factual error, email corrections@narayani.in with the article URL, the specific error, and the correct information with your source.
Our Standards Commitments
IFCN Signatory
We comply with the International Fact-Checking Network's Code of Principles
Press Council
We adhere to the Press Council of India's Norms of Journalistic Conduct
Open Data
All datasets we produce are publicly downloadable with full methodology
Right of Reply
Any party we cover may submit a formal response, published in full