IT Act 2000
Section 69A and Blocking Powers (Central Government Only)
The architecture of India's internet regulation framework concentrates regulatory power entirely in the central government.
- Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000: The Central Government may block access to information if it is "in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the State, friendly relations with foreign states, public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence."
- IT (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009: Govern the procedure for blocking — a central executive action with no state equivalent.
- Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015): Supreme Court struck down Section 66A of the IT Act (speech restriction) but upheld Section 69A as constitutional, with procedural safeguards. The judgment confirmed the central government's exclusive blocking authority.
- No provision in the IT Act or any other central legislation delegates age-based blocking authority to states.
- Even the proposed bans by Karnataka and AP cannot be enforced on platforms without a central government Section 69A order or equivalent central direction.
● Tracked since March 07, 2026 · last seen April 08, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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