The Indian government is set to introduce fresh amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, aimed at bringing greater accountability to both State and Central authorities.
According to officials familiar with the matter, the proposed changes will ensure that government entities are held to the same transparency and responsibility standards currently applied to digital platforms and intermediaries. The move comes amid growing public debate over the regulation of online content, misinformation, and the role of social media in governance.
Sources suggest the amendment may include provisions that require State and Central departments to justify actions taken under the IT Rules, such as content takedown requests or information blocking orders. These explanations could later be subject to independent or public review to prevent misuse of power.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is currently finalizing the draft language of the amendment. Officials have stated that the goal is to “strengthen citizen trust in digital governance” and ensure decisions related to online regulation remain transparent and accountable.
Experts view this as a significant shift, as it could make India one of the few countries to impose formal accountability measures on government bodies under its IT regulatory framework. However, critics have called for more clarity on how enforcement and oversight mechanisms will work in practice.
The proposed amendment is expected to be tabled for public consultation before being formally notified in the coming months.