Optimize IAS
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Courses
    • Prelims Test Series
      • LAQSHYA 2026 Prelims Mentorship
      • Prelims Test Series 2025
    • CSE Integrated Guidance 2025
      • ARJUNA PRIME 2025
    • Mains Mentorship
      • Arjuna 2026 Mains Mentorship
  • Portal Login
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Courses
    • Prelims Test Series
      • LAQSHYA 2026 Prelims Mentorship
      • Prelims Test Series 2025
    • CSE Integrated Guidance 2025
      • ARJUNA PRIME 2025
    • Mains Mentorship
      • Arjuna 2026 Mains Mentorship
  • Portal Login

Telecommunications Interception Rules 2024

  • December 23, 2024
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
No Comments

 

 

Telecommunications Interception Rules 2024

Sub : Polity

Sec: Legislation in news

Why in News

  • The Union Government notified the Telecommunications (Procedures and Safeguards for Lawful Interception of Messages) Rules, 2024 on December 6, 2024. These rules empower enforcement and security agencies to intercept communications under certain conditions and replace Rule 419A of the Indian Telegraph Rules, 1951.

Provisions of the New Rules:

  • Union Home Secretary and the State Home Secretary are designated as competent authorities to approve interception.
  • In “unavoidable circumstances,” an officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary can also issue interception orders.
  • The Central Government may authorise law enforcement or security agencies to intercept messages under Section 20(2) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
  • Heads or second senior-most officers (not below IG rank) of authorised agencies can issue interception orders in remote areas or due to operational reasons.
  • Orders must be submitted to the competent authority within three working days for confirmation.
  • If unconfirmed within seven working days, interception must cease, and the intercepted data cannot be used.
  • Agencies must destroy interception records every six months unless required for functional or legal purposes.

Major Differences from Rule 419A:

  • The earlier requirement of “emergent cases” has been relaxed. Interception is now allowed for remote areas or operational reasons if competent authority approval is not immediately feasible.
  • Unlike Rule 419A, which allowed unlimited IGP-level officers for interception, the new rules restrict this to the head and second senior-most officer of authorised agencies.
  • If an interception order is not confirmed within seven days, intercepted data cannot be used for any purpose, including court evidence.

Historical Context:

  • The Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, empowered the government to regulate interception, but safeguards were not introduced until 2007, following Supreme Court directions in PUCL vs. Union of India (1996).
  • The court emphasised that privacy is a fundamental right, requiring safeguards that are just, fair, and reasonable to prevent arbitrary curtailment.

Interception:

  • Interception refers to the act of monitoring, capturing, or accessing communications such as telephone calls, text messages, emails, or other forms of digital communication without the sender’s or recipient’s knowledge.
  • It is typically conducted by governments, security agencies, or authorised organisations for various purposes, including national security, crime prevention, and public safety.
  • Purpose:
    • To address threats like terrorism, espionage, or organised crime.
    • To maintain public order, national security, and law enforcement.
  • Technological Methods: Involves advanced tools like wiretapping, packet sniffing, and network surveillance software to access communication data.
Polity Telecommunications Interception Rules 2024

Recent Posts

  • Daily Prelims Notes 23 March 2025 March 23, 2025
  • Challenges in Uploading Voting Data March 23, 2025
  • Fertilizers Committee Warns Against Under-Funding of Nutrient Subsidy Schemes March 23, 2025
  • Tavasya: The Fourth Krivak-Class Stealth Frigate Launched March 23, 2025
  • Indo-French Naval Exercise Varuna 2024 March 23, 2025
  • No Mismatch Between Circulating Influenza Strains and Vaccine Strains March 23, 2025
  • South Cascade Glacier March 22, 2025
  • Made-in-India Web Browser March 22, 2025
  • Charting a route for IORA under India’s chairship March 22, 2025
  • Mar-a-Lago Accord and dollar devaluation March 22, 2025

About

If IAS is your destination, begin your journey with Optimize IAS.

Hi There, I am Santosh I have the unique distinction of clearing all 6 UPSC CSE Prelims with huge margins.

I mastered the art of clearing UPSC CSE Prelims and in the process devised an unbeatable strategy to ace Prelims which many students struggle to do.

Contact us

moc.saiezimitpo@tcatnoc

For More Details

Work with Us

Connect With Me

Course Portal
Search