Investigative Report by Manjari In a glaring editorial misstep, the Ministry of MSME’s official magazine claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Wardha, Maharashtra, on September 20, 2025—even as official records and public appearances placed him firmly in Gujarat.

On that date, the Prime Minister was reviewing progress at the National Maritime Heritage Complex in Lothal and addressing the “Samudra Se Samriddhi” programme in Bhavnagar. Photographs, press releases, and the PMO’s own schedule leave no doubt about his location. Yet the ministry’s publication carried a photograph of Mr. Modi alongside a caption asserting he attended a government event in Wardha.

The magazine is published under the Office of the Development Commissioner (MSME). According to insiders, the issue passed through senior IAS officer Dr. Rajnish and editors Ashwini Lal and Gaurav Katiyar, both from the Indian Economic Service. Sources allege that these officers have faced past controversies, but none have yet been held to account for this lapse.

Despite the seriousness of misreporting the Prime Minister’s official schedule, the ministry has not recalled the magazine or announced any corrective action. Officials remain silent, even as the erroneous report continues to circulate.

Observers warn that such a mistake does more than merely confuse readers. “It undermines the dignity of the Prime Minister, the President, and the Union Cabinet Minister of MSME, Jitan Ram Manjhi,” said a senior bureaucrat, noting that the magazine effectively misinformed the public about the country’s top executive’s movements.

Public criticism has been swift. “This is a blunder of national embarrassment,” remarked an MSME insider, pointing to a pattern of lax editorial oversight within the ministry.