India reiterates IT Rules compliance for publishers and intermediaries

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 12 December 2025 |  JP Asia Desk

The Indian government has restated compliance obligations for news publishers and online platforms under the IT Rules, 2021. These rules focus on content ethics, age-gating, and grievance redressal mechanisms.

Summary

NEW DELHI — The Indian government has reiterated that publishers of news and curated content, as well as intermediaries operating in the country, must comply with the obligations under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, which reinforce standards for content ethics and digital platform conduct.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting emphasised that online curated content platforms, including over-the-top services, must implement robust classification and age-gating tools, and that news and current affairs publishers must adhere to the Programme Code under the Cable Television Networks Act and the Press Council’s norms of journalistic conduct.

Government outlines key content obligations

The rules, originally notified under the Information Technology Act, 2000, require intermediaries such as social media and digital platforms to adopt measures to curb patently false, misleading or harmful content and to provide grievance redressal mechanisms in line with the three-tier structure set out in the regulations.

For online curated content, platforms are mandated to classify material into age-appropriate bands and restrict access to minors, with safeguards designed to prevent unlawful or prohibited content from being transmitted.

Grievance mechanisms and enforcement focus

Under the IT Rules, publishers of news and current affairs must establish and follow internal grievance processes, escalate unresolved complaints to recognised self-regulatory bodies, and finally be subject to oversight by central government committees.

Intermediaries have due diligence obligations under the rules, including mechanisms to prevent the hosting of unlawful content once they receive actual knowledge through a court order or government direction. Recent amendments notified this year reinforce transparency and accountability in how intermediaries respond to content takedown requests.

ATTRIBUTION: Reporting based on official government statements and credible sources.