NEW DELHI: The Indian Army has issued a new and stricter policy regulating the use of social media by its personnel, significantly limiting their online activity across popular platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and others.
In this sense, the serving soldiers will no longer be permitted to comment on posts, like content, or share material on social media.
In this regard, as per the report by the BBC, the army has stated that the primary objective of the new policy is to address security concerns and reduce potential risks linked to information leaks.
Furthermore, tensions between India’s military institutions and social media platforms are not new. In recent months, there has been a noticeable increase in online criticism by serving personnel and retired officers directed at the Modi government and senior military leadership.
This growing trend of public dissent appears to have prompted the authorities to tighten controls over the digital presence of army personnel.
Moreover, the court-martial of a Christian army personnel, Samuel Kamalasan, became a widely discussed issue on social media, raising questions about religious freedom within the armed forces.
Additionally, videos from the state of Bihar showing individuals wearing military uniforms while chanting anti-government slogans went viral, further fueling controversy.
Meanwhile, the public reaction on social media to reports of suicides among Indian soldiers, low morale, alleged harassment, and claims of unethical behavior has also increased pressure on the military leadership.
These issues have been openly debated online, often attracting significant public attention and criticism.
The move has created renewed debate in India about civil-military relations and the role of the armed forces as a neutral and professional institution.
