UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Centre eyes new regulation to cover social media users

Q1. In the context of the draft IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Second Amendment Rules, 2026, the term "safe harbour" under Section 79 of the IT Act, 2000 most precisely refers to which one of the following?

  • A. The statutory exemption of an intermediary from liability for third-party information it hosts or transmits, conditional on its observing due diligence and not initiating or modifying that content
  • B. The blanket immunity of an intermediary from all civil and criminal proceedings irrespective of its conduct or knowledge of the content
  • C. The protection given to an individual user from prosecution for content posted by others on a shared platform
  • D. The exemption of digital news publishers from the Digital Media Ethics Code so long as they register with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

Q2. With reference to the First Amendment Rules, 2026 and the draft Second Amendment Rules, 2026 to the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, consider the following statements: 1. The First Amendment Rules, 2026 dealt principally with synthetically generated information (SGI) and AI-content labelling, while the draft Second Amendment seeks to extend the framework to individual users posting news and current affairs content. 2. Both amendments were issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). 3. Unlike the First Amendment, the draft Second Amendment proposes that oversight of users' news and current affairs content would fall within the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's domain. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The First Amendment Rules, 2026 dealt principally with synthetically generated information (SGI) and AI-content labelling, while the draft Second Amendment seeks to extend the framework to individual users posting news and current affairs content.
  2. Both amendments were issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
  3. Unlike the First Amendment, the draft Second Amendment proposes that oversight of users' news and current affairs content would fall within the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's domain.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. Under the draft IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Second Amendment Rules, 2026, which Union ministry would be empowered to issue takedown notices to individual social media users in respect of "news and current affairs" content?

  • A. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
  • B. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
  • C. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • D. Ministry of Law and Justice

Q4. The Central Government's power to frame and amend the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, including the 2026 amendments, is derived chiefly from which one of the following provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000?

  • A. Section 87 (power of the Central Government to make rules)
  • B. Section 79 (exemption from liability of intermediaries)
  • C. Section 69A (power to issue directions for blocking public access)
  • D. Section 66A (punishment for sending offensive messages)

Q5. The draft Second Amendment Rules, 2026 proposed by MeitY in March 2026 seek to amend which one of the following as the principal parent set of subordinate legislation?

  • A. IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021
  • B. IT (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules, 2011
  • C. IT (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009
  • D. IT (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011