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The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has once again extended the deadline for stakeholder feedback on its proposed amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. Submissions can now be made till 7 May 2026.
The draft amendments, termed the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Second Amendment Rules, 2026, were originally published on 30 March this year.
These aim to strengthen intermediary compliance with government clarifications, advisories, and directions, while also enhancing oversight of digital media.
Why was the deadline extended?
The ministry stated that this was because a revised amendment to Rule 3 (3) (a) (ii) now mandates that labels for any synthetically generated information (SGI) must remain continuously and clearly visible throughout its entire duration in any visual display, ensuring greater transparency for users.
The rules define SGI as any audio or visual content which is artificially created or altered, using computer resources, to appear real or authentic, such that it can be mistaken for a real person or event.
What else has been added to the amendments?
Among the proposed changes, a new sub-rule (4) has been introduced under rule 3 to establish a formal framework for intermediaries to comply with clarifications, advisories, directions, and guidelines issued by the ministry.
These advisories must be issued in writing, clearly state their legal basis, scope, and applicability, and remain consistent with the parent law and rules.
“An intermediary shall comply with and give effect to any clarification, advisory, order, direction, standard operating procedure, code of practice or guideline issued by the Ministry, by order in writing, in relation to the implementation, interpretation or operationalisation of the requirements prescribed under this Part,” the revised amendments stated.
Further amendments expand the applicability of rules 14–16 to intermediaries and to user-generated content, which includes news and current affairs content created by users who are not publishers. These rules, detailed under chapter IV on the oversight mechanism, define how the government steps in to review and act on problematic digital content.
“Provided that for the purposes of rules 14, 15 and 16, the rules made under this Part shall apply to — (a) intermediaries; and (b) news and current affairs content hosted, displayed, uploaded, modified, published, transmitted, stored, updated or shared on the computer resources of the intermediaries by users who are not publishers,” the ministry stated.
These rules lay out the government's framework for addressing disputes over digital content. For instance, rule 16 allows the government to invoke emergency powers to block content without delay and without prior hearing, with such actions subject to review by the committee within 48 hours.
ET had earlier reported on the proposal to include both users and intermediaries in Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC) hearings under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), as given in rule 14. This is aimed at giving users an opportunity to present their case when their content is blocked, making the process more accessible and participatory.
The draft amendments, termed the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Second Amendment Rules, 2026, were originally published on 30 March this year.
These aim to strengthen intermediary compliance with government clarifications, advisories, and directions, while also enhancing oversight of digital media.
Why was the deadline extended?
The ministry stated that this was because a revised amendment to Rule 3 (3) (a) (ii) now mandates that labels for any synthetically generated information (SGI) must remain continuously and clearly visible throughout its entire duration in any visual display, ensuring greater transparency for users.
The rules define SGI as any audio or visual content which is artificially created or altered, using computer resources, to appear real or authentic, such that it can be mistaken for a real person or event.
What else has been added to the amendments?
Among the proposed changes, a new sub-rule (4) has been introduced under rule 3 to establish a formal framework for intermediaries to comply with clarifications, advisories, directions, and guidelines issued by the ministry.
These advisories must be issued in writing, clearly state their legal basis, scope, and applicability, and remain consistent with the parent law and rules.
“An intermediary shall comply with and give effect to any clarification, advisory, order, direction, standard operating procedure, code of practice or guideline issued by the Ministry, by order in writing, in relation to the implementation, interpretation or operationalisation of the requirements prescribed under this Part,” the revised amendments stated.
Further amendments expand the applicability of rules 14–16 to intermediaries and to user-generated content, which includes news and current affairs content created by users who are not publishers. These rules, detailed under chapter IV on the oversight mechanism, define how the government steps in to review and act on problematic digital content.
“Provided that for the purposes of rules 14, 15 and 16, the rules made under this Part shall apply to — (a) intermediaries; and (b) news and current affairs content hosted, displayed, uploaded, modified, published, transmitted, stored, updated or shared on the computer resources of the intermediaries by users who are not publishers,” the ministry stated.
These rules lay out the government's framework for addressing disputes over digital content. For instance, rule 16 allows the government to invoke emergency powers to block content without delay and without prior hearing, with such actions subject to review by the committee within 48 hours.
ET had earlier reported on the proposal to include both users and intermediaries in Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC) hearings under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), as given in rule 14. This is aimed at giving users an opportunity to present their case when their content is blocked, making the process more accessible and participatory.