UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Bombay HC directs Centre to file reply to Kunal Kamra’s plea

Q1. The 2025 amendment to Rule 3(1)(d) of the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 — which restructured the issuance of reasoned content-takedown intimations — was notified and is operationalised by which of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
  • B. Ministry of Home Affairs, through the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)
  • C. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
  • D. Department of Telecommunications

Q2. Under the October 2025 amendment to Rule 3(1)(d), an 'authorised officer' empowered to issue a reasoned takedown intimation must be an officer of a rank not below which of the following?

  • A. Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG)
  • B. Superintendent of Police (SP)
  • C. Inspector General of Police (IG)
  • D. Joint Secretary to the Government of India

Q3. The Sahyog Portal, the centralised platform through which authorised agencies issue content-takedown notifications to intermediaries, is administered by which single nodal body?

  • A. Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)
  • B. Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In)
  • C. National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC)
  • D. Data Security Council of India (DSCI)

Q4. With reference to the Sahyog Portal, consider the following statements: 1. It coordinates takedown notifications issued under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. 2. It enables participating intermediaries to flag defective or over-broad takedown requests. 3. Its validity was upheld by the Karnataka High Court in X Corp v. Union of India (2025). 4. It replaces Section 69A as the sole statutory route for blocking online content. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It coordinates takedown notifications issued under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
  2. It enables participating intermediaries to flag defective or over-broad takedown requests.
  3. Its validity was upheld by the Karnataka High Court in X Corp v. Union of India (2025).
  4. It replaces Section 69A as the sole statutory route for blocking online content.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q5. Under the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009, a request for blocking must ordinarily be decided within a maximum of how many working days of its receipt?

  • A. 7 working days
  • B. 15 working days
  • C. 30 working days
  • D. 48 hours

Q6. Under the IT (Blocking) Rules, 2009, the committee that examines a blocking request to determine whether it falls within the grounds of Section 69A is chaired by which official?

  • A. The Designated Officer
  • B. The Cabinet Secretary
  • C. The Union Home Secretary
  • D. The Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

Q7. With reference to the Supreme Court's judgment in Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015), consider the following statements: 1. Section 66A of the IT Act was struck down as unconstitutional. 2. Section 69A of the IT Act was upheld as constitutionally valid. 3. Section 79 of the IT Act was read down. 4. Section 66A was struck down for violating Article 21 (protection of life and personal liberty). Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Section 66A of the IT Act was struck down as unconstitutional.
  2. Section 69A of the IT Act was upheld as constitutionally valid.
  3. Section 79 of the IT Act was read down.
  4. Section 66A was struck down for violating Article 21 (protection of life and personal liberty).
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 3 and 4

Q8. In Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015), while reading down Section 79, the Supreme Court held that an intermediary's 'actual knowledge' of unlawful content — triggering its obligation to remove it — arises only in which of the following situations?

  • A. On receipt of a court order or a notification by an appropriate government agency
  • B. On receipt of a complaint from any private individual affected by the content
  • C. When the content is flagged by the intermediary's own automated filters
  • D. Immediately upon the content being uploaded on its platform

Q9. With reference to the proceedings in Kunal Kamra's petition before the Bombay High Court challenging the Sahyog Portal and the amended IT Rules, consider the following: 1. The matter is being heard by a Division Bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge. 2. The Union government was directed to file its affidavit by 29 July 2026. 3. The matter was listed for further hearing on 14 August 2026. 4. The petition was filed before the Delhi High Court. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The matter is being heard by a Division Bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge.
  2. The Union government was directed to file its affidavit by 29 July 2026.
  3. The matter was listed for further hearing on 14 August 2026.
  4. The petition was filed before the Delhi High Court.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q10. Regarding the mechanism challenged in Kunal Kamra's Bombay HC plea as compared with the statutory Section 69A route, consider the following statements: 1. The Sahyog Portal channels takedown notifications under Section 79(3)(b), whereas Section 69A provides a distinct statutory blocking route. 2. Kamra's plea contends that the Sahyog Portal creates a parallel mechanism that bypasses the safeguards of Section 69A. 3. The Karnataka High Court had earlier struck down the Sahyog Portal, whereas the Bombay High Court is now hearing a fresh challenge to it. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Sahyog Portal channels takedown notifications under Section 79(3)(b), whereas Section 69A provides a distinct statutory blocking route.
  2. Kamra's plea contends that the Sahyog Portal creates a parallel mechanism that bypasses the safeguards of Section 69A.
  3. The Karnataka High Court had earlier struck down the Sahyog Portal, whereas the Bombay High Court is now hearing a fresh challenge to it.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. Which of the following is NOT among the grounds on which reasonable restrictions may be imposed on the freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(2) of the Constitution? 1. Public order 2. Friendly relations with foreign States 3. Contempt of court 4. Protection of individual privacy Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Public order
  2. Friendly relations with foreign States
  3. Contempt of court
  4. Protection of individual privacy
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4