Information Technology Act, 2000
On UPSC.wiki
Current affairsRBI Data Centre & Cybersecurity Training Institute Inaugurated in BhubaneswarPrime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Reserve Bank of India's new ₹169-crore Data Centre and Cybersecurity Training Institute in Bhubaneswar, Odisha on 25 October 2026. The data centre has received the Uptime Institute Tier IV certification — the highest global benchmark for data-centre resilience — and will host critical payment and settlement systems. The accompanying Cybersecurity Training Institute will provide specialised training in enterprise computing, AI, and quantum-computing-based cybersecurity. Current affairsDRDO Tests Quantum Key Distribution on Live Military Network at Chandipur: A Milestone in Quantum-Secured Defence CommunicationsThe Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on 14 October 2026 successfully tested a Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) platform on the live test-range network at Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE), Chandipur, Odisha, securing real-time artillery and armoured weapon trial telemetry. The platform, developed under DRDO's MCC cluster with Taqbit Labs as production partner, recorded 26 dB link loss, 6% Quantum Bit Error Rate, and a 5 kbps secure key rate — sufficient for encrypted text and low-bandwidth voice over a military network. Current affairsFirst BIMSTEC Home Ministers' Meeting 2026: India Hosts Regional Security Dialogue in New DelhiIndia hosted the first-ever Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Home Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi on October 13, 2026. Chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the meeting brought together all seven member states to forge a collective framework against terrorism, transnational organised crime, narcotics, radicalisation, human trafficking, illicit financial flows, and cybercrime — marking a landmark upgrade of the grouping's security cooperation architecture. Current affairsWorld Development Report 2026: 'The Promise of Artificial Intelligence' — Key Findings for India and Developing EconomiesUnion Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launched the World Bank's flagship World Development Report 2026 — titled 'The Promise of Artificial Intelligence' — in New Delhi on 9 October 2026. The report finds that only ~4% of Indian jobs face immediate automation risk (vs one-third in advanced economies), recommends developing nations adopt open-source AI models for local needs, and positions AI as a productivity lever for healthcare, agriculture, and education in low- and middle-income countries. Current affairsWorld Bank India Development Update October 2026: GDP Growth Forecast Raised to 7.1% for FY27, India Among Top 10 in AI ReadinessThe World Bank's India Development Update (October 2026) has raised India's GDP growth forecast for FY2026–27 to 7.1% (from 6.6% in April), citing robust domestic demand and export performance. The report's special focus — "India and Artificial Intelligence: Seizing the Development Opportunity" — ranks India among the top 10 emerging markets in AI readiness and notes that private AI investment in India tripled to USD 4.1 billion in 2025 from USD 1.2 billion in 2024. Current affairsIndia Mobile Congress 2026: 10th Edition Begins at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi — Theme 'Scale Without Boundaries', Focus on 6G, AI and SemiconductorsThe 10th edition of India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026, Asia's largest digital technology forum, opened on October 7 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, under the theme 'Scale Without Boundaries'. Organised by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the four-day event spotlights 6G, AI-native networks, semiconductors, quantum communications, and satellite connectivity — with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to inaugurate on October 8. Current affairsDelhi Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS): Cabinet Approves ₹1,789 Crore AI-Powered Traffic Grid Across 42 CorridorsThe Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the implementation of an Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) for Delhi on September 30, 2026, at an estimated cost of ₹1,789.52 crore (including taxes). The system will cover 42 traffic corridors with 1,092 Adaptive Traffic Control Systems and 1,029 enforcement cameras, implemented by Delhi Police over 24 months and maintained for five years. It is India's most comprehensive AI-powered urban traffic management deployment. Current affairsTRAI A2P Regulations 2026: India's First Statutory Definition of Autodialler and Robo-calls, AI-Based Spam EnforcementOn 18 September 2026, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) notified the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2026, introducing India's first statutory definitions of Application-to-Person (A2P) calls, autodialler technology, and robo-calls. The regulations also incorporate AI/ML-based spam detection and impose a 5 paise/minute termination charge on A2P calls, strengthening India's Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC) enforcement framework. Current affairsNational Quantum Mission (NQM): IIT Bombay Facilities Inaugurated — India's ₹6,003 Crore Quantum LeapFabrication and central research facilities under the National Quantum Mission (NQM) were inaugurated at IIT Bombay in September 2026, marking a key milestone in India's ₹6,003.65 crore quantum technology programme (2023–2031). NQM aims to develop quantum computers with 50–1,000 physical qubits by 2031, making India one of only six countries with a dedicated national quantum mission. Current affairsGlobal Fintech Fest 2026: RBI on Tokenisation, Agentic AI, and India's Financial Inclusion Index at 70The Global Fintech Fest 2026, held in Mumbai, brought together policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders under the theme "Potential to Impact: Agentic AI | Tokenisation | Quantum: Trusted, Connected, Global Systems for Inclusive Finance." RBI highlighted tokenisation of financial assets and responsible Agentic AI as the next frontiers of India's fintech evolution. India's Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index) rose to 70.0 as of March 2026, up from 67.0 in March 2025. Current affairsPunjab's "Pehchaan" Portal: India's First Digital System for Identifying Unidentified Deceased PersonsPunjab became the first state in India to launch "Pehchaan" — a free, publicly accessible digital portal for identifying unidentified and unclaimed deceased persons in mortuaries. Built on the existing MedLEaPR (Medico-Legal Examination and Post-Mortem Reporting System), it stores photographs, physical descriptions, and identification marks, enabling families to trace missing relatives through police and hospital mortuary records. Current affairsLegal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules 2026: 'One Nation, One Time' — IST Made Legally Enforceable Nationwide with NavIC and White Rabbit TechnologyThe Ministry of Consumer Affairs notified the Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2026 on 27 August 2026, making Indian Standard Time (IST) the single legally enforceable time reference for all legal, administrative, commercial, and official purposes in India. The rules come into force 180 days after gazette notification (approximately March 2027), giving institutions time to align with the 'One Nation, One Time' initiative backed by NavIC and White Rabbit Technology.