Fact-Check & Verification Policy — Online Student Seva Portal (OSSP)

Effective date: 09 September 2025
Last reviewed: 09 September 2025

At Online Student Seva Portal (OSSP), we serve students across India with timely, accurate information about exams, admissions, results, answer keys, and government/private job updates. This Fact-Check & Verification Policy explains how we select claims to verify, how we research and review evidence, the rating scale we use, how we correct mistakes, and how you can request a fact-check or appeal our conclusions. Our approach is transparent, student-first, and aligned with widely accepted verification principles.

Who We Are

Online Student Seva Portal (OSSP) is an educational information platform.

We also provide updates through:
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va9SwTID8SE4YGpzZ92P
Telegram: https://t.me/onlinestudentsevatc

Scope of Fact-Checks

We fact-check claims related to:

  • Exams & Admissions: dates, eligibility, schedules, notice authenticity.
  • Results & Answer Keys: release status, official links, cut-off claims.
  • Recruitments: vacancies, application windows, selection process, exam city/date notices.
  • Scholarships & Yojanas: benefits, deadlines, application procedures.
  • Viral student-centric rumours spreading on social platforms that may harm decision-making.

We do not assess opinions, satire, or purely personal predictions unless they present themselves as verifiable facts.

Editorial Independence & Funding

  • Our fact-checks are independent of advertisers, sponsors, affiliates, and partners.
  • Revenue sources (if active): display ads, course fees, sponsorships clearly labelled, reader support. Revenue never influences editorial judgement.
  • Any sponsored posts are disclosed and not part of our fact-check desk.

How We Select Claims

We prioritise claims based on:

  1. Student Impact: Potential to affect applications, exam prep, deadlines, or financial decisions.
  2. Virality: Rapid spread on WhatsApp, Telegram, or social media.
  3. Harm Potential: Misinformation that can cause material loss or missed opportunities.
  4. Public Interest & Relevance: Alignment with our education/jobs focus.
  5. Requests Volume: Multiple tips from readers.

Verification Methodology

Our workflow includes:

  1. Claim Definition: Precisely frame the claim (who/what/where/when).
  2. Primary Source Search: Official notifications, government/authority portals, gazettes, court orders, tender notices, and original PDFs.
  3. Direct Confirmation: Reach out to issuing authorities’ official contacts when feasible.
  4. Secondary Corroboration: Reputable mainstream outlets and official handles; cross-check time-stamps and archive pages.
  5. Context Check: Historical background, policy changes, region/state differences, and effective dates.
  6. Evidence Logging: Store links, screenshots, and PDFs with timestamps; maintain a research trail.
  7. Editorial Review: A second editor reviews the draft, sources, and verdict before publication.
  8. Post-Publication Monitoring: Update if the fact-situation changes (e.g., revised dates, corrigenda).

Sources & Evidence Standards

Hierarchy of trust (highest to lower):

  1. Official/Primary: Government portals, official PDFs, exam boards, universities, recruiting agencies, verified legal orders.
  2. Direct Statements: Confirmed emails/calls from authorised officers (with documentation).
  3. Reputable Publishers: National/state newspapers and broadcasters with robust editorial standards.
  4. Subject Specialists: Recognised experts with verifiable credentials.
  5. Social Media: Verified handles or original claim posts—always corroborated.

We avoid anonymous sources unless there is a credible risk to the source; even then, corroboration is required.

Rating Scale (Verdicts)

We use clear labels at the top of each fact-check:

  • True: The claim is accurate; strong primary evidence.
  • Mostly True: Largely accurate; minor caveats or small omissions.
  • Half True / Mixed: Contains both accurate and inaccurate elements.
  • Missing Context: Facts are correct but misleading without key context.
  • Misleading: Uses data selectively or implies a false conclusion.
  • False: Contradicted by strong evidence/official records.
  • Unverifiable / Not Enough Evidence: Insufficient reliable evidence at the time.
  • Outdated: Previously accurate but has changed due to new orders/updates.

Headlines, Language & Presentation

  • Headlines reflect the verdict and the core finding; no sensationalism.
  • We use clear Indian English, plain-language summaries, and provide direct official links wherever possible.
  • Visuals (tables/charts) are labelled with sources and dates.

Right of Reply & Appeals

  • If a claim references a person/organisation, we seek comment before publishing when time permits (24–72 hours).
  • If you are directly affected by a published fact-check, you may appeal with new evidence. We will review and respond in a reasonable timeframe.

Appeals Email: onlinestudentseva[at]gmail.com
Please add the subject: “Appeal – Fact-Check [Title/URL]” and include verifiable documents/links.

Corrections & Updates Policy

  • Prompt Corrections: If we publish an error, we correct it promptly and note the change at the top or bottom with a timestamp.
  • Update Notices: When facts change (e.g., revised exam date), we add an UPDATE note and refresh the verdict if necessary.
  • Correction Log: Substantive changes are reflected in an inline note (e.g., “Updated on 12 Oct 2025: …”).

Report an error: onlinestudentseva[at]gmail.com (Subject: “Correction – Fact-Check [Title/URL]”)

Use of AI & Automation

  • We may use AI tools for assistance (organising notes, formatting, translation checks).
  • All conclusions are human-reviewed by our editorial team.
  • We do not let AI produce final verdicts without human oversight.
  • We do not feed sensitive personal data into AI tools without a lawful basis.

Conflicts of Interest

  • Team members must disclose any personal/professional ties to the subject.
  • Individuals with a conflict recuse themselves from the assignment.
  • We document recusals internally.

Plagiarism & Attribution

  • Zero tolerance for plagiarism.
  • We cite sources with full URLs and mention titles or issuing bodies for official documents.
  • Short quotations are used with attribution; longer excerpts are avoided unless permitted.

Archiving, Versioning & Transparency

  • We store source documents (PDFs/screenshots) with timestamps.
  • Each fact-check carries a date published and, when applicable, a date modified field.
  • We may provide archived links to preserve context.

How to Request a Fact-Check

Send us:

  • Claim: What exactly is being asserted (copy the text/link/screenshot).
  • Where you saw it: WhatsApp/Telegram/social link or website URL.
  • Why it matters: Potential harm or confusion for students.
  • Your evidence (if any): Links, documents, photos.
  • Your contact: Email/phone for follow-up.

Email: onlinestudentseva[at]gmail.com (Subject: “Fact-Check Request”)
You can also tip us via our channels (quicker visibility, but email is preferred):
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va9SwTID8SE4YGpzZ92P
Telegram: https://t.me/onlinestudentsevatc

  • We follow applicable Indian laws and reasonable safety practices.
  • For how we collect/use personal data during fact-checks (e.g., contact details for verification), see our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.
  • We do not publish sensitive personal data unless it is essential, lawful, and in the public interest.

Contact & Grievance Redressal

Grievance Officer: Aabid Ahmed
Email: onlinestudentseva[at]gmail.com
Address: IRRIGATION COLONY, Korba, HTPS Township, Chhattisgarh 495450, India
Phone: 078800 35336

We aim to acknowledge grievances within 24 hours and resolve them within 15 days or as required by law.