New Delhi: The Centre has significantly strengthened India’s regulatory framework governing artificial intelligence-generated content by introducing mandatory labelling requirements for synthetic media and sharply reducing the timelines within which online intermediaries must remove unlawful content.
The revised measures, notified through amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 on February 10, 2026, were detailed by Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on August 5.
Under the amended rules, intermediaries are now required to ensure that permissible AI-generated content carries clear labels and traceable metadata, enabling users to easily identify synthetically created material. The move forms part of the government’s broader effort to improve transparency and curb the misuse of generative AI technologies.
The amendments also introduce stricter compliance timelines for digital platforms. Online intermediaries must now remove unlawful content within three hours of receiving valid directions from the government or a court, a substantial reduction from the earlier 36-hour deadline.
Grievance redressal timelines have also been tightened. Complaints involving sensitive categories such as nudity, impersonation and similar harmful content must now be addressed within two hours, replacing the previous 24-hour response window.
According to MeitY, the revised framework explicitly covers AI-generated child sexual exploitation material, non-consensual intimate imagery, impersonation and other forms of synthetic content that violate Indian law. Platforms are required to deploy reasonable technical safeguards, including automated detection systems where appropriate, to prevent users from creating or distributing such unlawful content.
Significant Social Media Intermediaries (SSMIs) face additional compliance obligations, including proactively identifying and limiting the circulation of content depicting rape, child sexual abuse material and content that has previously been ordered removed by competent authorities.
The ministry also reiterated that India’s legal framework for tackling deepfakes extends beyond the IT Rules and is supported by provisions under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, covering offences such as identity theft, impersonation, forgery, misinformation, privacy violations and the publication of obscene or sexually explicit material.
Social media platforms with more than 50 lakh registered users in India will continue to be subject to enhanced due diligence requirements, including the deployment of automated tools to detect unlawful content, publication of periodic compliance reports, appointment of resident grievance and compliance officers, and cooperation with law enforcement agencies.
Highlighting the government’s broader AI governance strategy, MeitY said the India AI Governance Guidelines, released in November 2025, establish a risk-based framework for responsible AI development and deployment. As part of the IndiaAI Mission’s Safe & Trusted AI pillar, the government has approved 13 responsible AI projects, including initiatives led by IIT Jodhpur, IIT Madras and IIT Kharagpur focusing on deepfake detection and audio-visual forgery identification.
The ministry also outlined the ecosystem of enforcement and grievance mechanisms available to citizens. These include the Grievance Appellate Committees (GACs), the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), the SAHYOG portal for automated takedown requests, the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, and the Samanvaya platform, which facilitates interstate cybercrime investigations.
Citizens can report deepfake-related offences through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal or by contacting the national cybercrime helpline 1930, the government said.
