New Delhi (ABC Live): India's Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, form the backbone of online content regulation.
These Rules were notified on 25 February 2021 and later amended in October 2022 and April 2023 to enhance user safety and platform accountability.
However, after several years of enforcement, it became clear that greater procedural transparency was needed in how unlawful online content was being removed.
Therefore, on 23 October 2025, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) introduced the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2025, which will take effect from 15 November 2025.
These amendments strengthen the due diligence framework under Rule 3(1)(d) of the IT Rules, 2021, by ensuring that content removal happens in a transparent, proportionate, and accountable manner.
Under the new framework, any direction to remove unlawful content can only be issued by a senior officer -- not below the rank of Joint Secretary or Director (if no such post exists).
In police matters, only a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) or higher officer, duly authorised, can issue such an order.
This change significantly reduces the risk of arbitrary or uninformed takedowns.
Each direction must now include the legal provision invoked, the specific nature of the unlawful act, and the exact URL or identifier of the content.
Moreover, the term "notification" has been replaced with "reasoned intimation," aligning the Rules with the 'actual knowledge' standard under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, 2000.
Consequently, intermediaries will now have precise guidance to comply with the law while safeguarding legitimate speech.
All content removal directions will be subject to a monthly review by a senior officer, not below the rank of Secretary in the concerned government.
This ensures continuous oversight and prevents unnecessary or outdated restrictions from remaining in force.
As a result, enforcement will become more consistent and proportionate.
The amendments carefully balance freedom of expression with the state's duty to prevent harm.
In addition, they ensure that enforcement actions remain rooted in reasoned decision-making rather than subjective opinion.
Ultimately, this approach protects citizens' rights while maintaining lawful online conduct.
Furthermore, these steps bring Indian digital governance closer to global best practices by introducing written reasoning, audit trails, and review mechanisms into takedown procedures.
India's digital-regulation system -- comprising the IT Rules 2021, Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, and the upcoming Digital India Act -- is evolving rapidly.
Together, they aim to create a consistent and fair online regulatory framework.
The 2025 Amendment reflects this direction by institutionalising due process in online governance.
Therefore, every removal order will now be reviewable, reasoned, and accountable, ensuring that the government's actions remain transparent to both citizens and intermediaries.
In essence, this marks a shift from opaque decisions to a rule-based digital accountability ecosystem.
The notification of 23 October 2025 represents a key moment in India's digital policy timeline.
ABC Live is publishing this report before the new Rules take effect on 15 November 2025 so that stakeholders -- lawmakers, intermediaries, and citizens -- understand the framework in detail.
At a time when online content moderation has become increasingly controversial, these Rules are the first to mandate reasoned orders, high-level authorisation, and routine reviews.
Hence, this explainer helps bridge the gap between legal complexity and public understanding, offering readers factual clarity ahead of enforcement.