Abstract

Media narratives play a central role in shaping how societies understand themselves their history cultural values political institutions social groups and relationship with the nation. In contemporary India the rapid expansion of television news newspapers digital journalism social media video platforms messaging applications and independent content creators has transformed the ways in which national identity is produced circulated negotiated and contested. Media representations do not merely report events they select particular issues frame social conflicts construct symbolic boundaries highlight national achievements and influence perceptions of belonging and citizenship. This paper examines the relationship between media narratives and the construction of national identity in contemporary India from a critical social science perspective. The study focuses on television news print journalism digital platforms social media political communication cultural representation regional-langu