In George Orwell’s dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, the main character Winston Smith works in the records department of the Ministry of Truth. The ministry’s job was to decide what is the truth. Propaganda was its sole purpose. 

My colleague Shreegireesh found Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office has ordered the setting up of an equivalent: A war room cutting across many Union government ministries with one agenda: To discredit any global indices that show the government in bad light and ‘fix’ the perception by cooking up home-made rankings to portray only a charitable view.

Over the years you may have read some news reports about the government’s obsession with perception management. But, what Shreegireesh reveals with his investigation is a systemic and government-wide program, dictated by the top office, to methodically rescript the reality. 

You can read Part 1 of his investigation by clicking on the link below:

Inside Modi Govt’s War Room to Whitewash Global Indices

And, if you have got so far with the newsletter, a request: As the year ends, we at The Reporters’ Collective are looking at a chilling winter. Our finances have run dry because such investigative journalism requires a lot of resources and time and we rely entirely on your donations to take on the powerful. Our tiny but courageous newsroom stands on a financial cliff. Please donate generously to the Collective as the year ends to keep us working into the next one. You can donate here: www.reporters-collective.in/support-us.
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The next part of this investigation will be out soon. Keep a look out for it. 

With warm regards

Nitin Sethi
Founder Editor