The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) received multiple stakeholder submissions in response to its March 2026 draft amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, according to medianama.com. These submissions were compiled from public disclosures and direct emails, as MeitY stated the submissions would be held in fiduciary capacity and not disclosed under the Right to Information Act.
The submissions came from a diverse range of organizations including Access Now, Software Freedom Law Centre India (SFLC.in), Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF), Amnesty International, The Quantum Hub, Eysa Center, Nasscom, Society for Impact and Policy Research, Press Club of India, DIGIPUB, and individual journalists such as Abhishek Baxi. These groups provided their perspectives on the proposed amendments, which aim to update the regulatory framework governing intermediaries and digital media ethics in India.
This consultation process is significant as it reflects the ongoing efforts to balance regulation of digital platforms with freedom of expression and privacy concerns. The draft amendments follow the 2021 rules and are part of a broader regulatory trend affecting social media companies, digital news publishers, and intermediaries. The involvement of prominent civil society organizations and industry bodies highlights the importance of these rules for the digital ecosystem in India.
Next steps include MeitY reviewing the collected submissions before finalizing the amendments. The ministry has not disclosed a timeline for the final rules but the feedback period and compilation indicate a thorough consultation process. Stakeholders and observers will watch for the official release of the amended rules and their impact on digital governance in India.