Government of India
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
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NOTICE
Subject: Inviting feedback/comments of stakeholders on the Draft amendments to Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 in relation to strengthening intermediary compliance with clarifications, advisories and directions issued by the Ministry and digital media oversight- reg.
Dated: 30^th March, 2026
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology invites feedback on the draft amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (“IT Rules, 2021”).
2. The Government of India remains committed to ensuring an Open, Safe, Trusted and Accountable Internet for all users of Internet-enabled services. The proposed amendments seek to strengthen compliance with clarifications, advisories and directions issued by the Ministry under Part II, and to enhance the effectiveness of regulatory oversight of content regulation mechanisms under Part III (Code of Ethics relating to Digital Media) of the IT Rules, 2021.
3. Key features of the proposed amendments include:
- (i) Amendments in Part II:
- Clarification in Rule 3(1)(g) and 3(1)(h) that retention obligations are without prejudice to requirements under other laws;
- Insertion of Rule 3(4) mandating compliance by intermediaries with Ministry-issued clarifications, advisories, directions, SOPs, codes of practice and guidelines, forming part of due diligence under section 79.
- (ii) Amendments in Part III:
- Clarification of applicability of Part III (Rule 8) to intermediaries and news and current affairs content hosted by non-publisher users;
- Strengthening of Rule 14 to expand the scope and functioning of the Inter-Departmental Committee to consider matters beyond complaints, including those referred by the Ministry.
The amendments are clarificatory and procedural in nature and are intended to improve legal certainty, strengthen enforceability of Ministry directions, and ensure effective oversight of intermediary-hosted content, particularly news and current affairs.
4. The Draft Notification for amendments, is available on Ministry’s website at the following link:
https://www.meity.gov.in/documents/act-and-policies/draft-amendments-to-the-it-rules-2021-in-relation-to-strengthening-intermediary-compliance-with-clarifications-advisories-and-directions-issued-by-the-ministry-and-digital-media-oversight-AjM2YjMtQWa?pageTitle=Draft-amendments-to-the-IT-Rules,-2021-in-relation-to-strengthening-intermediary-compliance-with-clarifications,-advisories-and-directions-issued-by-the-Ministry-and-digital-media-oversight
The consolidated text of the IT Rules, 2021 as they would stand after the amendments proposed (with the amendments shown in coloured text) is also placed at above link for ease of reference.
5. The submissions will be held in fiduciary capacity in MeitY and shall not be disclosed to any one at any stage, enabling persons to submit feedback/comments freely without any hesitation.
6. The feedback/comments on the draft rules in a rule wise manner may be submitted by email to itrules.consultation@meity.gov.in in MS Word or PDF format by 14^th April, 2026.
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