Members of the Indian Youth Congress maintain a placard depicting the quilt of an unreleased ebook titled ‘4 Stars of Future’ by former Military chief Common Manoj Mukund Naravane throughout a protest in search of clarification from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
| Picture Credit score: PTI
Amid the controversy surrounding former Military Chief Common (retired) M.M. Naravane’s unpublished memoir4 Stars of Future, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is engaged on detailed tips for serving and retired armed forces personnel who want to publish books in future.
The proposed tips will spell out the method to be adopted earlier than any manuscript is cleared for publication.
A senior defence official confirmed {that a} assembly was held lately to border a brand new algorithm, throughout which an in depth presentation was made. The upcoming framework is predicted to include provisions of current service guidelines in addition to the Official Secrets and techniques Act.
At current, there is no such thing as a single consolidated legislation particularly governing book-writing by retired Military officers. As a substitute, completely different authorized and repair frameworks apply to serving personnel and retirees. In each instances, nationwide safety and safety of labeled info stay the first pink strains.
There are not any particular service guidelines barring ex-servicemen or retired Military officers from authoring or publishing books. Nevertheless, the liberty operates inside a authorized gray space. The Official Secrets and techniques Act continues to use for all times, even after retirement, making it a legal offence to reveal labeled info, delicate operational particulars, or any materials prejudicial to nationwide safety.
Whereas retired personnel are now not ruled by the Military Act or Military guidelines in issues of publication, statutory legal guidelines stay relevant. If a manuscript accommodates operational or delicate particulars, authors are anticipated to submit it to the MoD for clearance. The related division then verifies and cross-checks the content material earlier than granting approval.
For serving Military personnel, the foundations are specific and obligatory. Service guidelines and defence service rules require prior written permission earlier than endeavor any literary, political or remunerative exercise outdoors official duties. Requests are routed by way of the chain of command and should require clearance as much as Military Headquarters or the MoD, relying on the character of the content material.
Materials referring to labeled info, operational particulars, inside procedures, tools capabilities, intelligence inputs, or points affecting nationwide safety or international relations is strictly prohibited. Even fictional works might face restrictions in the event that they carefully resemble actual operations or disclose identifiable particulars.
No copies of Naravane’s memoir have gone into publication: Writer
Maturity, judgment
Lt. Gen. (retd.) D.P. Pandey stated, “When an Military particular person retires, she or he is as a lot a civilian as anybody else however the side of Official Secrets and techniques Act stays. After retirement, it largely comes all the way down to particular person’s maturity and judgment concerning what to put in writing and easy methods to current it. One ought to keep away from writing on issues which are labeled and never in open area. Nevertheless, retired personnel are free to precise their private opinions about politics and issues of nationwide safety. If any content material falls underneath the Official Secrets and techniques Act, prior permission from the MoD is required.”
He additional talked about that in his view, materials that’s already within the public area might be written about. There’s a laid-down course of throughout the respective Providers to grant permission for publication if a ebook mentions points associated to nationwide curiosity. If any info printed in a ebook is discovered to be incorrect or illegal, there are authorized provisions to take care of such infringements.
On Tuesday (February 10, 2026), Gen. Naravane endorsed Penguin Random Home India’s (PRHI) assertion that his memoir has not been printed. PRHI clarified it holds sole publishing rights and that no print or digital copies have been launched or distributed. The clarification adopted a First Data Report by the Delhi Police over alleged unlawful circulation of the unpublished manuscript. The row intensified after Congress chief Rahul Gandhi questioned conflicting claims, prompting the PRHI to state that pre-order bulletins don’t quantity to publication.
Within the case of civil servants, the Centre had amended the Pension Guidelines for Civil Servants in 2021, prohibiting retired officers in intelligence or safety associated organisations to publish any info associated to their organisation with out clearance from the competent authority. The retired officers must signal an endeavor to the impact and pension may very well be withheld or withdrawn for failure to adjust to the foundations.
Printed – February 11, 2026 10:40 pm IST
