Legislative Path to AI Content Regulation: UPSC Current Affairs Story Arc

Overview

This arc traces India's rapid legislative response to the rise of synthetic media and deepfakes. It began in September 2025 with a House Panel's call for accountability, which quickly evolved into draft amendments targeting social media giants. By February 2026, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) notified the final Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules. These rules define 'synthetically generated information' for the first time and impose strict labeling requirements—such as a 10% screen area watermark for videos—on platforms like YouTube and Instagram. For India, this represents a shift toward proactive digital governance to protect democratic discourse and individual dignity.

How This Story Evolved

Parliamentary panel suggests mandatory labeling (Item 16) → Govt releases draft amendments to IT Rules for labeling (Item 18) → Govt notifies final IT Amendment Rules 2026 enforcing labeling (Item 8)

1. 2025-09-15: House Panel Suggests Licensing for AI Content Creators
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Panel suggests licensing for AI content creators; regulatory implications.

   Key Facts:

   • Recommendation: Licensing for AI content creators
   • Suggestion: Mandatory labeling of AI content
2. 2025-10-24: AI Content Labelling Rules Drafted
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Draft rules mandate AI content labelling to curb deepfakes.

   Key Facts:

   • Draft rules mandate AI-generated content labelling on social media platforms
   • Amendments to the IT Rules, 2021 require platforms to ask users to declare if uploaded content is AI-generated
   • Platforms must ensure AI-generated content carries permanent labels or metadata identifiers
   • For videos, the label must cover 10% of the screen area; for audio, it must play during the first 10% of duration
   • Move follows concerns over digitally altered videos, such as the 2023 Rashmika Mandanna deepfake
3. 2026-02-10: New Rules on AI-Generated Content
   More details

   UPSC Angle: New rules on AI-generated content.

   Key Facts:

   • Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2026 notified on February 10
   • Rules expand to cover 'synthetically generated information'
   • Rules mandate clear labelling and faster takedown timelines
   • Amended rules come into force on February 20, 2026
   • Synthetically generated information defined as artificially or algorithmically created audio, visual, or audio-visual content that appears authentic
4. 2026-02-17: Central Ministries to Shift to New Buildings
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Ministries to shift to 'Seva Teerth' and 'Kartavya Bhavans'.

   Key Facts:

   • Key central ministries to shift from North Block and South Block to “Seva Teerth” and “Kartavya Bhavans” in New Delhi
   • The North Block and South Block is located on Raisina Hill and has served as the administrative nerve centre of the Government of India (GoI)
   • Designed by British architect Edwin Lutyens and built during the British colonial period

Genesis

Trigger

The arc was triggered on September 15, 2025, when a Parliamentary panel formally recommended mandatory licensing for AI content creators and labeling of synthetic media.

Why Now

The move was catalyzed by the 2023 viral Rashmika Mandanna deepfake and increasing public anxiety over digitally altered content influencing public opinion and personal privacy.

Historical Context

It builds upon the IT Rules, 2021, which originally established the framework for intermediary liability and digital media ethics, but lacked specific provisions for AI-generated hallucinations and deepfakes.

Key Turning Points

1. [2025-10-24] Release of Draft IT Rule Amendments

   It translated broad parliamentary suggestions into technical requirements, like the 10% screen coverage rule.

   Before: General concern over deepfakes with no specific labeling standards. After: Platforms were put on notice regarding specific metadata and visual watermark requirements.

2. [2026-02-10] Notification of Final IT Amendment Rules 2026

   It provided the final legal force to the proposals, setting a hard deadline of February 20 for compliance.

   Before: Draft proposals undergoing public and inter-ministerial review. After: Mandatory law with clear takedown timelines and legal definitions.

Key Actors and Institutions

Key Institutions

• Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
• Department-Related Standing Committees (DRSCs)
• Social Media Intermediaries (YouTube, Instagram, etc.)

Key Concepts

Synthetically Generated Information

Artificially or algorithmically created audio, visual, or audio-visual content that appears authentic but is manipulated or generated by AI.

Current Fact: Formally defined in the IT Amendment Rules notified on February 10, 2026.

Metadata Identifiers

Digital tags embedded within a file that provide information about its origins and whether it was generated or altered by AI tools.

Current Fact: Required under the new rules to ensure permanent labels remain attached to AI content.

Subordinate Legislation

Rules and regulations made by the executive branch under powers delegated by an Act of Parliament (in this case, the IT Act, 2000).

Current Fact: The notified rules are a form of delegated legislation overseen by the Committee on Subordinate Legislation.

What Happens Next

Current Status

As of February 10, 2026, the IT Amendment Rules have been notified and are set to come into force on February 20, 2026.

Likely Next

Expect a wave of compliance updates from social media platforms, followed by MeitY's monitoring of 'takedown timelines' for non-compliant synthetic content.

Wildcards

Potential legal challenges by tech giants regarding the '10% screen area' rule's technical feasibility or impacts on user experience; possible over-regulation concerns from AI startups.

Why UPSC Cares

Syllabus Topics

• Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors
• Basics of Cyber Security
• Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nanotechnology, Biotechnology

Essay Angles

• Truth in the Age of Synthetic Reality
• Balancing Innovation in AI with Ethical Governance
• The Role of the State in Regulating Digital Truth

Prelims Likely: Yes

Mains Likely: Yes

Trend Signal: rising

Exam Intelligence

Previous Year Question Connections

• Which committee scrutinizes whether the Executive is exercising its power to make rules/regulations properly? — The IT Amendment Rules 2026 are 'subordinate legislation' and will be scrutinized by the Committee on Subordinate Legislation to ensure they don't exceed the parent IT Act's powers.
• Testing provisions of the IT Act 2000 regarding electronic signatures. — Shows the UPSC trend of testing specific technical legal provisions of the IT Act, which now includes AI labeling.

Prelims Angles

• The definition of 'synthetically generated information' under the 2026 Rules.
• The specific '10% screen area' requirement for video content watermarking.
• The specific 'first 10% of duration' requirement for audio labeling.
• Effective date of the rules: February 20, 2026.

Mains Preparation

Sample Question: Discuss the significance of the IT (Amendment) Rules 2026 in addressing the challenges posed by deepfakes. To what extent do these rules balance the right to free expression with the need for digital accountability?

Answer Structure: Intro: Context of AI-generated content and the 2026 notification → Body 1: Key provisions (labeling, metadata, takedown timelines) → Body 2: Addressing Deepfakes (transparency, preventing misinformation) → Critical Analysis: Impact on intermediaries and user privacy → Way Forward: Tech-legal synergy and international cooperation.

Essay Topic: The Digital Panopticon: Navigating the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Governance.

Textbook Connections

Key Takeaway

India has moved from a reactive to a proactive regulatory stance on AI, using subordinate legislation to enforce transparency through technical watermarking and metadata requirements.

All Events in This Story (4 items)

1. 2025-09-15 [Science & Technology] — House Panel Suggests Licensing for AI Content Creators
   A parliamentary panel has recommended that the government explore the feasibility of implementing licensing requirements for AI content creators. The panel also suggested mandatory labeling of AI-generated content to ensure transparency and ethical considerations in the use of artificial intelligence.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Panel suggests licensing for AI content creators; regulatory implications.

   Key Facts:

   • Recommendation: Licensing for AI content creators
   • Suggestion: Mandatory labeling of AI content
2. 2025-10-24 [Polity & Governance] — AI Content Labelling Rules Drafted
   The Indian government has proposed draft rules mandating AI-generated content labelling on social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram to curb deepfakes. The IT Rules, 2021, are to be amended so platforms ask users to declare if content is AI-generated, and ensure such content carries permanent labels. The proposed rules follow rising concerns over digitally altered videos, such as the 2023 Rashmika Mandanna deepfake, which went viral.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Draft rules mandate AI content labelling to curb deepfakes.

   Key Facts:

   • Draft rules mandate AI-generated content labelling on social media platforms
   • Amendments to the IT Rules, 2021 require platforms to ask users to declare if uploaded content is AI-generated
   • Platforms must ensure AI-generated content carries permanent labels or metadata identifiers
   • For videos, the label must cover 10% of the screen area; for audio, it must play during the first 10% of duration
   • Move follows concerns over digitally altered videos, such as the 2023 Rashmika Mandanna deepfake
3. 2026-02-10 [Polity & Governance] — New Rules on AI-Generated Content
   The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2026 on February 10, expanding the law to cover 'synthetically generated information,' requiring clear labelling and faster takedowns. The amended rules will come into force on February 20, 2026, defining synthetically generated information as artificially or algorithmically created audio, visual, or audio-visual content that appears authentic.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: New rules on AI-generated content.

   Key Facts:

   • Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2026 notified on February 10
   • Rules expand to cover 'synthetically generated information'
   • Rules mandate clear labelling and faster takedown timelines
   • Amended rules come into force on February 20, 2026
   • Synthetically generated information defined as artificially or algorithmically created audio, visual, or audio-visual content that appears authentic
4. 2026-02-17 [Polity & Governance] — Central Ministries to Shift to New Buildings
   The Union Cabinet approved proposals to shift key central ministries from North Block and South Block to “Seva Teerth” and “Kartavya Bhavans” in New Delhi, Delhi. The North Block and South Block is located on Raisina Hill and has served as the administrative nerve centre of the Government of India (GoI). It was designed by British architect Edwin Lutyens and built during the British colonial period.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Ministries to shift to 'Seva Teerth' and 'Kartavya Bhavans'.

   Key Facts:

   • Key central ministries to shift from North Block and South Block to “Seva Teerth” and “Kartavya Bhavans” in New Delhi
   • The North Block and South Block is located on Raisina Hill and has served as the administrative nerve centre of the Government of India (GoI)
   • Designed by British architect Edwin Lutyens and built during the British colonial period