Sources and Verification Policy
This policy explains what sources we use, how we evaluate official information, and how we decide whether a scheme detail is reliable enough to publish.
Last updated: June 6, 2026
Our source philosophy
government-schemes.org/ gives highest priority to official sources because our readers often use our pages to understand eligibility, application steps, documents, and government-service processes. We prefer sources that are directly connected to the department, ministry, state government, public authority, or official service portal responsible for the scheme.
When an official page is difficult to understand, we may explain it in simpler language. When official information is incomplete, we may add general guidance, but we should not invent facts or present assumptions as official rules.
Preferred source types
| Priority | Source type | Use case |
|---|---|---|
| Highest | Official government scheme portal, ministry page, department website, state portal, district portal, or official application page. | Eligibility, application process, beneficiary lists, status tracking, login, documents, contact details. |
| High | Official PDF guidelines, notifications, circulars, orders, press releases, FAQs, and public notices. | Benefit amounts, deadlines, income limits, category rules, state-specific changes. |
| Supporting | Official help pages, public service portals, government dashboards, helpline pages, and department directories. | Phone numbers, addresses, service steps, portal navigation guidance. |
| Contextual | Reputable public information sources, if they do not conflict with official sources. | Background explanation or context when official sources are very technical. |
| Not enough alone | Social media posts, WhatsApp forwards, random screenshots, unofficial blogs, private agents, or unverified videos. | These are not used as final authority for scheme details. |
How we evaluate a source
- Authority: Is the source connected to the responsible government department or recognized public authority?
- Currency: Is the page, notification, or PDF current enough for the topic?
- Specificity: Does the source answer the exact claim we are making?
- Scope: Is the information national, state-specific, district-specific, or category-specific?
- Consistency: Does it match the current application portal and other official notices?
- User safety: Does the link ask for sensitive information, and is it clearly official?
Link-checking standards
Before publishing a guide that includes official links, the editorial team should check that important links open correctly and match the user’s task. For example, an article about “status check” should not only link to a general homepage if a direct official status page exists and is verifiable. Similarly, an article about “apply online” should distinguish between an information page and the actual application portal.
When a direct link is unstable, session-based, or likely to expire, we may link to the official parent portal and explain how to navigate from there. This is safer than adding broken or guessed URLs.
Handling official PDFs and notices
Many government scheme details are published in PDF format. When using a PDF as a source, we consider the issuing authority, publication date, scheme name, financial year, and whether a newer notice exists. We avoid copying long legal text unnecessarily. Instead, we summarize the relevant points in plain English and direct readers to the official document where appropriate.
When no clear official source is available
If an official source is unavailable, unclear, or contradictory, we take a cautious approach. We may postpone publication, remove uncertain details, add a verification note, or explain that readers should confirm with the official department. We do not create fake official links, guess helpline numbers, or invent deadlines to complete an article.
Reader-submitted sources
Readers may send source links when reporting corrections. We appreciate official source links, but we still review them before updating the page. We do not automatically accept claims from screenshots, copied messages, social media, or unofficial agents unless the information can be verified.