Page 66 - GIGW2

CH 05 Quality Of Content

5.2

Content Authenticity, Accuracy & Currency

It is the duty of every Web Information Manager to ensure that the content on his/
her website is always authentic, up-to-date and latest. This fact assumes paramount
significance in the context of Government websites since the public puts a lot of trust in
the information available on the official websites of any department.

5.2.1 Each and every bit of content published on a Government website should be
verified and checked thoroughly as the public expects nothing less than authentic
and accurate information from a credible source such as an official Government
website. The Departments MUST have a Content Contribution, Moderation
and Approval Policy (CMAP) stating the responsibility, authorisation and
workflow details with regard to content publishing on the site.

5.2.2 The Homepage MUST and every important entry page of all Indian Government
websites/portals should display a timestamp indicating one of the following:

a. Date on which the information was posted on the website.
b. Date on which the content was last reviewed and/or modified.

5.2.3 Every piece of content appearing on the Government website should be
reviewed after a pre-decided duration for its accuracy, relevance and currency.
All Government Departments MUST formulate a proper web Content Review
Policy (CRP) depending upon the nature of their content and if possible, also
publish the policy on their website.
5.2.4 In case the nature of the content is ‘historical’ i.e. it will never change (e.g. press
releases, speeches, published reports/documents of a Department etc.), the date
of posting the content may be mentioned along with a note indicating the nature
of the document and explaining that it is not subject to revision.

5.2.5 In case the reports and documents are voluminous and it is difficult to mention
the timestamp on every page, the same MUST be indicated on the main page as
well as on all icons/places which link to that document.
5.2.6 For time sensitive content which expires after a certain date (e.g. tender
notifications, announcements, contest entries etc.), a policy on whether the
content should be archived for future reference or removed altogether from
the website should be decided by the concerned Department after careful
consideration of the nature of content. However, ‘expired or outdated’ content
MUST not be presented or flashed on the website. Such content should be
removed or archived as per the content archival policy (CAP).

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