It Act

Draft IT rules amendments not linked to recent takedowns: MeitY Secy

Takedown and blocking powers are already provided for under the existing provisions, and the proposed amendments to the IT rules are not linked to content takedown actions, MeitY Secretary S Krishnan said on Tuesday. He said the proposed amendments do not give the government wider powers nor expand those, and are "merely clarificatory in nature". Fielding a question on the significant rise in blocking action seen over the last three-four months, Krishnan attributed the increase to synthetically-generated content. "There has been a sudden explosion across the board.... This is not to do with any one political party.... So, a sudden explosion of so-called 'deepfakes' has meant that further action has been taken," he said at a media briefing. To a question on whether there will be a provision for giving specific reasons behind recent takedowns of certain posts, Krishnan asserted that "these changes (IT rule amendments) have nothing to do with what are the takedowns...." Takedowns hap

Govt likely to extend timeline for stakeholders' view on IT rule tweaks

Extension may allow industry, civil society and individuals more time to respond to proposed changes bringing independent news and current affairs creators under regulatory oversight

New I-T law, higher securities transaction tax to kick in from April 1

The new income tax law and other budgetary provisions, including higher Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on F&O trade and lower TCS on overseas tour packages and LRS remittances for medical and education purposes, will come into effect from April 1. Also, the Budget announcement of a 20-year tax holiday up to 2047 to any foreign company that procures data centre services in India, and new safe harbour provisions with a higher threshold for software companies will come into effect from Wednesday, with the beginning of the 2026-27 fiscal. The Income-tax Act, 2025, will replace the Income-tax Act, 1961, with effect from April 1, 2026. The new Act aims to present the same tax policy in a more logical, accessible, and reader-friendly format. The Income Tax department has said that its e-filing portal will facilitate compliance under both the old and new Income Tax Acts in the transition period, and all assessments, appeals, and other proceedings relating to earlier years will continue .

Govt may cut content takedown compliance timeline to 1 hour from 3 hours

The government is considering reducing the content takedown timeline to one hour from three, subject to stakeholder consultations and implementation feedback from intermediaries

More ministries may get powers to order removal of online content

Government may amend Section 69(A) of the IT Act to empower key ministries to issue emergency content takedown orders, expanding powers beyond MeitY

SC to hear Centre's plea against HC order striking down IT rules

The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to examine the Centre's plea challenging a Bombay High Court verdict that struck down amendments to Information Technology Rules aimed at regulating fake and false content posted on social media against the government. The top court did not stay the 2024 High Court verdict, which struck down the amended Information Technology Rules and termed them "unconstitutional", even as a three-judge bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices R Mahadevan and Joymalya Bagchi issued notices to the original petitioners, including stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, the Editors Guild of India, and the Association of Indian Magazines. The High Court struck down the rules amended in 2023 to empower the central government to establish a Fact-Check Unit (FCU) to identify "fake, false, or misleading" information regarding "government business" on social media. If the FCU flagged content under those rules, social media intermediaries such as X, Facebook, or ...

SC to examine challenge to I-T law allowing searches of digital devices

Petition questions Section 247 of Income Tax Act, 2025, saying expanded powers to access digital devices and virtual space violate privacy and lack safeguards

Increasing discomfort: AI and social media need new norms of regulation

The Grok controversy shows how fast-moving AI is outpacing laws, forcing governments to rethink how to curb explicit content without undermining free speech

Charitable institution forms to be overhauled ahead of new I-T Act rollout

Das said he shared stakeholders' concerns regarding the complexity of the existing audit report forms filed by trusts

Social media can't be left in anarchic freedom: K'taka HC quashes X's plea

The Karnataka HC dismissed X's plea against the Sahyog portal, calling it a public-good mechanism, noting that social media cannot be left in unregulated

Draft rules for new I-T Act expected by year-end, says CBDT member

When the new law was introduced in Parliament on February 13, the government also set up a committee to draft the accompanying rules and forms

ALTT, Ullu among 25 OTT apps banned for obscene, vulgar content

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting blocks 25 OTT platforms, including Ullu and ALTT, for hosting inappropriate content despite prior warnings

Govt officials acting on 'whims and fancies', X tells Karnataka HC

X Corp argues before the Karnataka High Court that arbitrary content blocking under Section 79 of the IT Act by government officers violates constitutional safeguards

Karnataka HC denies interim relief to X in Sahyog portal censorship case

While denying interim relief to X, Justice M Nagaprasanna noted that liberty had already been given to X to approach the court if it faced coercive action, on March 17

Income-Tax Bill 2025: File tax return by due date to be eligible for refund

Deductions related to salary, including standard deduction and leave encashment, are now grouped under a single clause

Tax dept invites public inputs for I-T Act review to simplify provisions

The Income Tax department on Monday invited public inputs for review of the six-decade old I-T Act with regard to simplification of language, litigation reduction, compliance reduction, and obsolete provisions. Pursuant to the Budget announcement by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for a comprehensive review of the Income-tax Act, 1961, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) had set up an internal committee to oversee the review and make the Act concise, clear, and easy to understand, which will reduce disputes, litigation, and provide greater tax certainty to taxpayers. "The committee invites public inputs and suggestions in four categories: simplification of language, litigation reduction, compliance reduction, and redundant/obsolete provisions," the CBDT said. A webpage on the e-filing portal -- https://eportal.incometax.gov.in/iec/foservices/#/pre-login/ita-comprehensive-review -- has been launched and the public can access the page by entering their mobile number and ...

Delhi HC grants interim relief to Puja Khedkar, bars immediate arrest

The court noted that the applicant/accused is charged with offenses punishable under Sections 420, 468, 471, 120B IPC, 66D of the IT Act, and Sections 89/91 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Income Tax Day 2024: Date, history, significance, quotes and more

India celebrates the National Income Tax Day, or Aaykar Divas, every year on July 24, marking the historical development of tax administration in the country

SC transfers batch of pending pleas against IT rules 2021 to Delhi HC

The Supreme Court on Friday transferred to the Delhi High Court a batch of pleas pending before different high courts across the country challenging the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and Prashant Kumar Mishra noted that several petitions were pending on the issue before different high courts including Karnataka, Madras, Calcutta, Kerala and Bombay high courts. "In order to avoid contradictory judgments, the Union of India would wish to have all matters consolidated for analogous hearing. Since a large number of these cases are pending consideration before the Delhi High Court, we deem it appropriate to transfer the matters in various HCs to the Delhi HC," the bench said. The top court directed that all relevant paper books shall be transferred by the high courts to the Delhi High Court within four days. The apex court passed the order on a transfer petition moved by the Union of India f

Home Ministry authorises I4C to issue takedown notices under IT Act

Experts believe that this step would streamline the process of tackling cybercrimes at the national level but could create confusion between agencies over authority