Welcome to Bharatpedia's deletion process guide. This page introduces the policies, guidelines and procedures that editors should understand when considering whether a page should be deleted or retained.
When to use the deletion process[edit source]
Bharatpedia is a collaborative encyclopaedia, and articles are not expected to be perfect when they are created. Editors should first consider whether an article can be improved before requesting its deletion.
Content on Bharatpedia is expected to follow these fundamental principles:
- Neutral point of view – Articles should be written objectively and represent relevant viewpoints fairly.
- Verifiability – Information should be supported by reliable published sources, with references provided wherever appropriate.
- No original research – Articles should not contain unpublished theories, personal interpretations or original analysis.
- What Bharatpedia is not – Bharatpedia is an encyclopaedia, not a dictionary, advertising platform, personal blog, collection of links or repository for indiscriminate information.
Articles that do not meet these standards may often be improved through editing, additional references or restructuring. Deletion should be considered when a page cannot reasonably be brought into compliance with Bharatpedia's policies or guidelines.
When not to use the deletion process[edit source]
- Articles that need improvement: Poorly written, incomplete or poorly formatted articles should generally be improved or tagged for maintenance rather than nominated for deletion.
- Articles about less familiar subjects: An editor's lack of interest in a topic is not a valid reason for deletion.
- Personal disagreement: Articles should not be nominated for deletion simply because an editor disagrees with the subject, its views or its existence.
- Temporary content problems: Missing references or incomplete sections do not automatically mean that an article should be deleted if the information can be verified and improved.
How does the deletion process work?[edit source]
Pages may be considered for deletion through the procedures established by Bharatpedia's deletion policy. These may include:
- Speedy deletion: Pages that clearly meet an established speedy deletion criterion may be deleted by an administrator without a full community discussion.
- Proposed deletion: Where this procedure is supported by Bharatpedia policy, an editor may propose deletion of an article when the case is considered uncontroversial. The page should be handled according to the applicable procedure.
- Deletion discussion: An article may be nominated for a community discussion. Editors can present arguments and relevant sources before an administrator or authorised editor closes the discussion according to the consensus reached.
If an editor disagrees with a deletion decision, they may request a review through the applicable Bharatpedia deletion review procedure, if available.
Pages other than articles, such as files, categories and templates, may have separate deletion procedures.
Deletion discussions[edit source]
Deletion discussions allow editors to examine whether a page should remain on Bharatpedia. The purpose is to establish community consensus rather than simply count votes.
Editors should support their opinions with relevant policies, guidelines and reliable sources. An administrator or authorised editor should evaluate the discussion and determine the outcome in accordance with Bharatpedia's policies.
Common considerations in deletion discussions include:
- Verifiability: Whether the information in the article can be checked against reliable published sources.
- Original research: Whether the article contains unsupported conclusions or unpublished analysis.
- Advertising: Whether the article primarily promotes a person, organisation, product or service rather than providing encyclopaedic information.
- Autobiography and conflict of interest: Whether the article presents neutrality or verification concerns because of the relationship between its subject and its creator.
- Hoaxes: Whether the article contains fabricated information or describes a subject that does not exist.
- Notability: Whether the subject has received sufficient significant coverage in reliable, independent sources to justify a separate encyclopaedia article.
Notability should be assessed using the relevant Bharatpedia guidelines. A lack of sources in an article does not necessarily prove that the subject is not notable, but claims must be verifiable.
Advice for editors participating in deletion discussions[edit source]
- Understand the policies: Familiarise yourself with Bharatpedia's deletion policy, notability guidelines and relevant content policies.
- Treat deletion as a last resort: Deletion should not be used as a substitute for improving an article.
- Remain civil: Discuss the article and its content rather than attacking other editors.
- Assume good faith: Editors may disagree while still working towards improving Bharatpedia.
- Research the subject: Look for reliable independent sources before supporting or opposing deletion.
- Explain your reasoning: Do not simply express support or opposition. Provide policy-based arguments.
- Use relevant arguments: Focus on verifiability, notability, reliability of sources and other applicable policies.
- Avoid personal opinions: Decisions should be based on encyclopaedic standards rather than personal preferences.
- Respect consensus: The outcome should reflect the applicable policies and the consensus established through discussion.
Speedy deletion[edit source]
Speedy deletion is intended for pages that clearly meet one or more of Bharatpedia's established speedy deletion criteria. Such pages may be deleted by an administrator without a lengthy community discussion.
Speedy deletion should be used only when the relevant criteria are clearly satisfied. It should not be used simply because an article is poorly written, lacks formatting, has few references or is considered unimportant by an individual editor.
Editors requesting speedy deletion should identify the applicable criterion and provide a clear explanation. Administrators should review the request before taking action.
Proposed deletion[edit source]
Proposed deletion, where provided for under Bharatpedia's policies, is intended for cases in which deletion is considered uncontroversial.
Editors should explain why the page should be deleted and allow the applicable review or objection period to run. If another editor objects, the matter should be handled through the appropriate deletion discussion procedure.
Proposed deletion should not be used to avoid community discussion where the deletion is disputed.
Deletion review[edit source]
Deletion review provides a way to request reconsideration of a previous deletion decision, where such a procedure is available under Bharatpedia policy.
A review request may explain why the original decision was inconsistent with policy, why relevant information or sources were overlooked, or why a deleted article should be restored for further improvement.
A review is not simply an opportunity to repeat arguments from an earlier discussion. Requests should provide relevant reasons and evidence.
How to nominate a page for deletion[edit source]
Before nominating a page, editors should review its content, check the available references and search for additional reliable sources.
The following general procedures apply, subject to Bharatpedia's current deletion policy:
- Speedy deletion: Add the appropriate speedy deletion template to the page and specify the relevant criterion. Include a brief explanation in the edit summary.
- Proposed deletion: If supported by Bharatpedia policy, use the applicable proposed deletion template and provide a clear reason for the nomination.
- Deletion discussion: Follow the instructions at Bharatpedia's deletion discussion page. Explain the reasons for nomination and provide relevant policy-based arguments.
Responsible nominations[edit source]
Editors nominating pages for deletion are expected to exercise reasonable care and judgement.
Pages should not be nominated routinely without checking their content, searching for reliable sources or considering whether they can be improved. A nomination should be based on an identifiable policy or guideline concern rather than personal preference.
Policies and guidelines[edit source]
The following topics are relevant when considering deletion:
Policies[edit source]
- Bharatpedia:Deletion policy – The policy governing page deletion.
- Bharatpedia:Verifiability – Requirements for verifying information.
- Bharatpedia:No original research – Restrictions on original research.
- Bharatpedia:Neutral point of view – Requirements for neutral writing.
- Bharatpedia:What Bharatpedia is not – Content that does not belong in an encyclopaedia.
Guidelines[edit source]
- Bharatpedia:Notability – General notability requirements.
- Bharatpedia:Biographies of living persons – Guidance for articles about living people.
- Bharatpedia:Reliable sources – Guidance on evaluating sources.
- Bharatpedia:Conflict of interest – Guidance for editors with personal or professional connections to a subject.
- Bharatpedia:Autobiography – Guidance on writing about oneself.