#FactCheck - Viral Graphic Falsely Attributes Statement on UGC to CM Yogi Adityanath
Executive Summary
A news graphic is being shared on social media claiming that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said,“Those who practice casteism and discrimination are the ones opposing UGC. If you do not indulge in caste-based discrimination, what is there to fear?” The CyberPeace’s research found the viral claim circulating on social media to be false. Our research revealed that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath never made such a statement. It was also established that the viral news graphic has been digitally edited.
Claim
On February 8, a user on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) shared a news graphic bearing the logo of Navbharat Times, attributing the above statement to CM Yogi Adityanath. The post and its archived version can be seen below, along with screenshots. (Links and screenshots provided)
Fact Check:
To verify the authenticity of the claim, we conducted a keyword-based search on Google. However, we did not find any credible or reliable media report supporting the viral statement. We further examined the official social media accounts of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, including his Facebook and Instagram handles. Our review found no post, speech, or statement resembling the claim made in the viral graphic.
Continuing the research , we examined the official social media accounts of Navbharat Times. During this process, we found the original graphic published on the Navbharat Times Facebook page on January 26, 2026. The caption of the original graphic read: “On the occasion of Republic Day 2026, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, ‘No one is above the Constitution.’”
This clearly differs from the claim made in the viral graphic, indicating that the latter was altered.
Conclusion
Our research confirms that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath did not make the statement being attributed to him on social media. The viral news graphic is digitally edited and misleading. The claim, therefore, is false.
Related Blogs
The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, operationalises data privacy largely through a consent management framework. It aims to give data principles, ie, individuals, control over their personal data by giving them the power to track, change, and withdraw their consent from its processing. However, in practice, consent management is often not straightforward. For example, people may be frequently bombarded with requests, which can lead to fatigue and eventual overlooking of consent requests. This article discusses the way consent management is handled by the DPDP Act, and looks at how India can design the system to genuinely empower users while holding organisations accountable.
Consent Management in the DPDP Act
According to the DPDP Act, consent must be unambiguous, free, specific, and informed. It must also be easy for people to revoke their consent (DPO India, 2023). To this end, the Act creates Consent Managers- registered middlemen- who serve as a link between users and data custodians.
The purpose of consent managers is to streamline and centralise the consent procedure. Users can view, grant, update, or revoke consent across various platforms using the dashboards they offer. They hope to improve transparency and lessen the strain on people to keep track of permissions across different services by standardising the way consent is presented (IAPP, 2024).
The Act draws inspiration from international frameworks such as the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), mandating that Indian users be provided with a single platform to manage permissions rather than having to deal with dispersed consent prompts from every service.
The Challenges
Despite the mandate for an interoperable platform for consent management, several key challenges emerge. There is a lack of clarity on how consent management will be operationalised. This creates challenges of accountability and implementation. Thus, :
- If the interface is poorly designed, users could be bombarded with content permissions from apps/platforms/ services that are not fully compliant with the platform.
- If consent notices are vague, frequent, lengthy, or complex, users may continue to grant permissions without meaningful engagement.
- It leaves scope for data fiduciaries to use dark patterns to coerce customers into granting consent through poor UI/UX design.
- The lack of clear, standardised interoperability protocols across sectors could lead to a fragmented system, undermining the goal of a single, easy-to-use platform.
- Consent fatigue could easily appear in India's digital ecosystem, where apps, e-commerce websites, and government services all ask for permissions from over 950 million internet subscribers. Experiences from GDPR countries show that users who are repeatedly prompted eventually become banner blind, which causes them to ignore notices entirely.
- Low levels of literacy (including digital literacy) and unequal access to digital devices among women and marginalised communities create complexities in the substantive coverage of privacy rights.
- Placing the burden of verification of legal guardianship for children and persons with disabilities (PwDs) on data fiduciaries might be ineffective, as SMEs may lack the resources to undertake this activity. This could create new forms of vulnerability for the two groups.
Legal experts claim that this results in what they refer to as a legal fiction, wherein consent is treated as valid by the law despite the fact that it does not represent true understanding or choice (Lawvs, 2023). Additionally, research indicates that users hardly ever read privacy policies in their entirety. People are very likely to tick boxes without fully understanding what they are agreeing to. By drastically limiting user control, this has a bearing on the privacy rights of Indian citizens and residents. (IJLLR, 2023).
Impacts of Weak Consent Management:
According to the Indian Journal of Law and Technology, in an era of asymmetry and information overload, privacy cannot be sufficiently protected by relying only on consent (IJLT, 2023). Almost every individual will be impacted by inadequate consent management.
- For Users: True autonomy is replaced by the appearance of control. Individuals may unintentionally disclose private information, which undermines confidence in digital services.
- For Businesses: Compliance could become a mere formality. Further, if acquired consent is found to be manipulated or invalid, it creates space for legal risks and reputational damage.
- For Regulators: It becomes difficult to oversee a system where consent is frequently disregarded or misinterpreted. When consent is merely formal, the law's promise to protect personal information is undermined.
Way Forward
- Layered and Simplified Notices: Simple language and layers of visual cues should be used in consent requests. Important details like the type of data being gathered, its intended use, and its duration should be made clear up front. Additional explanations are available for users who would like more information. This method enhances comprehension and lessens cognitive overload (Lawvs, 2023).
- Effective Dashboards: Dashboards from consent managers should be user-friendly, cross-platform, and multilingual. Management is made simple by features like alerts, one-click withdrawal or modification, and summaries of active permissions. The system is more predictable and dependable when all services use the same format, which also reduces confusion (IAPP, 2024).
- Dynamic and Contextual Consent: Instead of appearing as generic pop-ups, consent requests should show up when they are pertinent to a user's actions. Users can make well-informed decisions without feeling overburdened by subtle cues, such as emphasising risks when sensitive data is requested (IJLLR, 2023).
- Accountability of Consent Managers: Organisations that offer consent management services must be accountable and independent, through clear certification, auditing, and specific legal accountability frameworks. Even when formal consent is given, strong trustee accountability guarantees that data is not misused (IJLT, 2023).
- Complementary Protections Beyond Consent: Consent continues to be crucial, but some high-risk data processing might call for extra protections. These may consist of increased responsibilities for fiduciaries or proportionality checks. These steps improve people's general protection and lessen the need for frequent consent requests (IJLLR, 2023).
Conclusion
The core of the DPDP Act is to empower users to have control over their data through measures such as consent management. But requesting consent is insufficient; the system must make it simple for people to manage, monitor, and change it. Effectively designed, managed, and executed consent management has the potential to revolutionise user experience and trust in India's digital ecosystem if it is implemented carefully.To make consent management genuinely meaningful, it is imperative to standardise procedures, hold fiduciaries accountable, simplify interfaces, and investigate supplementary protections.
References
Building Trust with Technology: Consent Management Under India’s DPDP Act, 2023
Consent Fatigue and Data Protection Laws: Is ‘Informed Consent’ a Legal Fiction
Beyond Consent: Enhancing India's Digital Personal Data Protection Framework
Top 10 operational impacts of India’s DPDPA – Consent management
Introduction
Microchips are the invisible foundation of the modern economy. From consumer electronics and automotive manufacturing to military defense and artificial intelligence, virtually every critical industry relies on semiconductor supply chains. Yet, despite their ubiquity, chip manufacturing remains one of the most complex and concentrated supply networks on the planet. This explainer breaks down the global semiconductor ecosystem: how chips are produced, where the primary vulnerabilities lie, and why control over silicon has become the defining geopolitical battleground of our time.
A Chip Crosses More Borders Than Most People Do
Chipmaking is a relay race across continents. Engineers design the layout, then factories carve it onto silicon wafers so precisely that a particle of dust can ruin a batch. A single chip may be designed in the United States, made in Taiwan on Dutch equipment, assembled in Malaysia or Vietnam, and soldered in China or India. Thus, the entire link in the chain is vulnerable, and the failure of one weak element will lead to the stoppage of the entire chain. The forecast for the industry in 2021 was complicated by pandemic-related constraints and record demand, resulting in the disruption of automakers’ production costs by $210 billion and the loss of 7.7 million vehicles, according to AlixPartners
The Geography of Silicon Power
Manufacturing clusters in East Asia: Taiwan is focused on advanced manufacturing, South Korea – on memory (Samsung, SK Hynix), Japan – on chemicals and equipment. South Korea is ready to double its DRAM production in 2026 by increasing it 5 times than 2025. China is seeking to reduce its dependence on imports, but it is not as far along in advanced manufacturing as many analysts believe. The US holds much of the underlying IP but manufactures a smaller share of it — TSMC's Arizona campus shows the shift, growing from $12 billion to over $165 billion, with a further $100 billion expansion announced in mid-2026 that could push the total to $265 billion, potentially the largest foreign direct investment in US history.
Foundry, Fabless, or Both?
The semiconductor industry runs on three primary business models:
- Fabless (Design-Only): Companies like NVIDIA, AMD, and Qualcomm focus exclusively on architecture, intellectual property, and circuit design. They outsource all physical fabrication to specialised manufacturers, which helps them stay agile.
- Pure-Play Foundries (Manufacturing-Only): Dedicated contract manufacturers, most prominently TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company), take designs from fabless firms and produce the physical wafers. They invest billions annually in advanced lithography and don’t compete in product design.
- Integrated Device Manufacturers (IDMs): Legacy companies like Intel and Samsung manage the entire lifecycle, from designing and fabricating to packaging their own chips. However, maintaining both cutting-edge design and manufacturing capabilities has become more and more difficult, leading IDMs to adopt hybrid foundry strategies.
Advanced Packaging: The New Frontier
For decades, the primary driver of semiconductor performance was Moore’s Law: shrinking transistor dimensions on a single silicon die. But physical limitations are making traditional scaling prohibitively expensive, making the industry shift its focus to Advanced Packaging. Techniques like 2.5D and 3D stacking combine multiple chips with short, dense wiring, boosting speed and efficiency without shrinking transistors, which are crucial for AI hardware. TSMC's CoWoS platform is now considered as critical as fabrication itself, with demand regularly outpacing supply. Because packaging needs far less capital than a leading-edge fab, more countries are racing to build local packaging capacity.
Who Actually Runs This Industry
A few companies dominate the market. TSMC is the biggest contract manufacturer of chips, while Samsung is both a designer and a manufacturer. Intel is re-establishing its foundry business, while Nvidia has taken over the market for AI and graphics processing units. Qualcomm and MediaTek dominate the market for mobile phone chips, and AMD competes in the personal computer market. Finally, there is one tiny Dutch company, ASML, which has a monopoly on the most advanced lithography tools, called extreme ultraviolet, or EUV. Each such machine costs more than $15 billion, so there is no real competition for now. Broadcom, Micron, and SK Hynix are other important players, as they are major suppliers of memory chips for computers and cars, as well as AI chips.
Where Things Are Headed
AI remains central, pushing advanced packaging and high-bandwidth memory to the top of every strategy; SEMI projects 300mm memory equipment investment will exceed $50 billion in 2026. Trade policy now matters as much as technology. In January 2026, the U.S. imposed a 25 per cent tariff on advanced semiconductors and began applying case-by-case reviews to previously near-automatic rejections of requests for Chinese firms to buy state-of-the-art chips for use in artificial intelligence computers. The U.S. is incentivizing Taiwanese manufacturers to make semiconductors in America while South Korea, Japan, and the European Union have made efforts to encourage investment in their own display technology. According to an article from Bloomberg published in July 2026, new fabrication plants face a danger of being delayed for years due to a shortage of skilled workers, resulting in billions of dollars wasted on investments.
Conclusion
Ultimately, semiconductors represent the ultimate convergence of technology, commerce, and geopolitics. A single speck of silicon now carries the weight of global GDP, national security, and the future of artificial intelligence. As trade barriers rise and supply chains re-align, control over these micro-foundations will decide which economies lead and which get left behind. The next decade will be won by mastering advanced packaging, talent management, and forging strategic alliances.
References
AlixPartners. "Semiconductor Shortages to Cost the Auto Industry Billions." September 2021
TSMC. "TSMC Arizona." Company overview
World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS). "Global Semiconductor Market Surges Beyond $1.5T 2026."
Introduction:
The Ministry of Civil Aviation, GOI, established the initiative ‘DigiYatra’ to ensure hassle-free and health-risk-free journeys for travellers/passengers. The initiative uses a single token of face biometrics to digitally validate identity, travel, and health along with any other data needed to enable air travel.
Cybersecurity is a top priority for the DigiYatra platform administrators, with measures implemented to mitigate risks of data loss, theft, or leakage. With over 6.5 million users, DigiYatra is an important step forward for India, in the direction of secure digital travel with seamless integration of proactive cybersecurity protocols. This blog focuses on examining the development, challenges and implications that stand in the way of securing digital travel.
What is DigiYatra? A Quick Overview
DigiYatra is a flagship initiative by the Government of India to enable paperless travel, reducing identity checks for a seamless airport experience. This technology allows the entry of passengers to be automatically processed based on a facial recognition system at all the checkpoints at the airports, including main entry, security check areas, aircraft boarding, and more.
This technology makes the boarding process quick and seamless as each passenger needs less than three seconds to pass through every touchpoint. Passengers’ faces essentially serve as their documents (ID proof and if required, Vaccine Proof) and their boarding passes.
DigiYatra has also enhanced airport security as passenger data is validated by the Airlines Departure Control System. It allows only the designated passengers to enter the terminal. Additionally, the entire DigiYatra Process is non-intrusive and automatic. In improving long-standing security and operational airport protocols, the platform has also significantly improved efficiency and output for all airport professionals, from CISF personnel to airline staff members.
Policy Origins and Framework
Rooted in the Government of India's Digital India campaign and enabled by the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2016, DigiYatra aims to modernise air travel by integrating Aadhaar-based passenger identification. While Aadhaar is currently the primary ID, efforts are underway to include other identification methods. The platform, supported by stakeholders like the Airports Authority of India (26%) and private airports (14.8% each), must navigate stringent cybersecurity demands. Compliance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, ensures the secure use of sensitive facial recognition data, while the Aircraft (Security) Rules, 2023, mandate robust interoperability and data protection mechanisms across stakeholders. DigiYatra also aspires to democratise digital travel, extending its reach to underserved airports and non-tech-savvy travellers. As India refines its cybersecurity and privacy frameworks, learning from global best practices is essential to safeguarding data and ensuring seamless, secure air travel operations.
International Practices
Global practices offer crucial lessons to strengthen DigiYatra's cybersecurity and streamline the seamless travel experience. Initiatives such as CLEAR in the USA and Seamless Traveller initiatives in Singapore offer actionable insights into further expanding the system to its full potential. CLEAR is operational in 58 airports and has more than 17 million users. Singapore has made Seamless Traveller active since the beginning of 2024 and aims to have a 95% shift to automated lanes by 2026.
Some additional measures that India can adopt from international initiatives are regular audits and updates to the cybersecurity policies. Further, India can aim for a cross-border policy for international travel. By implementing these recommendations, DigiYatra can not only improve data security and operational efficiency but also establish India as a leader in global aviation security standards, ensuring trust and reliability for millions of travellers
CyberPeace Recommendations
Some recommendations for further improving upon our efforts for seamless and secure digital travel are:
- Strengthen the legislation on biometric data usage and storage.
- Collaborate with global aviation bodies to develop standardised operations.
- Cybersecurity technologies, such as blockchain for immutable data records, should be adopted alongside encryption standards, data minimisation practices, and anonymisation techniques.
- A cybersecurity-first culture across aviation stakeholders.
Conclusion
DigiYatra represents a transformative step in modernising India’s aviation sector by combining seamless travel with robust cybersecurity. Leveraging facial recognition and secure data validation enhances efficiency while complying with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and Aircraft (Security) Rules, 2023.
DigiYatra must address challenges like secure biometric data storage, adopt advanced technologies like blockchain, and foster a cybersecurity-first culture to reach its full potential. Expanding to underserved regions and aligning with global best practices will further solidify its impact. With continuous innovation and vigilance, DigiYatra can position India as a global leader in secure, digital travel.
References
- https://government.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/governance/digi-yatra-operates-on-principle-of-privacy-by-design-brings-convenience-security-ceo-digi-yatra-foundation/114926799
- https://www.livemint.com/news/india/explained-what-is-digiyatra-how-it-will-work-and-other-questions-answered-11660701094885.html
- https://www.civilaviation.gov.in/sites/default/files/2023-09/ASR%20Notification_published%20in%20Gazette.pdf
