Misinformation related to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic in India

Misinformation has been circulating in India related to the COVID-19 disease, the pandemic and the responses of the government to the pandemic. The misinformation circulated in the context of COVID-19 in India include using unproven methods for disease cure, spreading communal hatred and glorifying or belittling the government's response to the pandemic. Actions are taken by the central and state governments to curb the spreading of fake news. The Central government appealed the citizens to not heed to rumours surrounding COVID-19.
Misinformation related to coronavirus disease 2019
Herbal remedies were proposed for preventing and curing coronavirus disease including by the government. The Prime Minister of India said that people should follow official guidelines to use a particular herbal combination called 'kadha' to increase immunity, although there is no evidence that immunity can be boosted this way. The Indian government's fact checking service debunked health claims like drinking warm water or gargling with saline or vinegar solutions do not prevent one from contracting coronavirus. Elected representatives have claimed that cow urine and cow dung could be a cure for coronavirus, while yet another distributed cloves which are 'energized by mantras' for preventing the disease.
Misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic
Misinformation related to disease spread
An audio clip claiming that vegetable sellers were licking the vegetables to spread coronavirus, creating panic. A popular Hindi TV channel reported that there was an ICMR research to show that, if there hadn't been a national lockdown, there would have been 0.8 million people in India infected with coronavirus by mid April. The Indian health ministry later confirmed that there has not been such a study. Headers like 'corona jihad' appeared in social media in relation to this incident. A Muslim man was beaten to death in Delhi following the rumours that he is spreading coronavirus, given that he had recently returned from a religious gathering. The man was taken to a Hindu temple and told to renounce Islam before they would allow him to go to hospital. A scientists' group responded that the available data does not support the speculation that the blame for coronavirus transmission lies mainly with Islamic religious groups.
Misinformation related to the effects of the pandemic
A fake document that reads almost like a genuine order spread across Jammu and Kashmir that the Supreme Court has advised the government to restore 4G internet in Kashmir within 24 hours.
Misinformation related to governmental response
Misinformation that the government is spreading "anti-corona" drug in the country during Janata curfew, a one-day lockdown, went viral on social media. Film actor Mohanlal and many others shared the fake news that, the vibration generated by clapping together during Janata curfew will kill the virus. One viral message says that the lifetime of coronavirus is only 12 hours and staying home for 14 hours during Janata curfew break the chain of transmission. Another message claimed that observing Janata curfew will result in the reduction of coronavirus cases by 40%. Amitabh Bachchan was heavily criticised for one of his tweets, which claimed vibrations from clapping, blowing conch shells as part of Sunday's Janata Curfew would have reduced or destroyed coronavirus potency as it was ‘amavasya’, the darkest day of the month.
The circulation of fake news that special train services are running in India led thousands of migrant workers to converge in railway stations. The ministry of railways clarified that there will not be any train service until 3 May 2020. The reporter who spread this false news was penalised by the police.
Actions against misinformation
By scientists
A group of 400 scientists across more than twenty research institutes of India started an initiative called 'Indian Scientists' Response to COVID-19' for debunking fake news related to the disease. The goal of the initiative is to analyse all available data and support the governments for evidence-based action.
By governments
The state governments have identified misleading posts on social media and take down notices were issued if they were found to circulate fake news. As of 16 April 2020, the Maharashtra state government has reported 218 cases of spreading misinformation, most of them from social media channels.

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