MAINS Current Affairs includes Telegram Ban Under Section 69A of IT Act, 2000 & Indian Cities Need to Rethink Their Water Future

POLITY & GOVERNANCE

1. Telegram Ban Under Section 69A of IT Act, 2000

Context: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) temporarily blocked Telegram in India under Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000 after criminal networks misused its message-editing feature to defraud NEET UG 2026 re-examination candidates.

About Section 69A of IT Act, 2000

• Section 69A empowers the Central Government or authorised officers to direct any agency or intermediary to block public access to online information.
• It can be invoked only on specific grounds:
  • Sovereignty and integrity of India
  • Defence and security of the State
  • Friendly relations with foreign countries
  • Public order
  • Preventing incitement to cognisable offences
• In Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015), the Supreme Court upheld Section 69A as constitutionally valid, calling it a “narrowly drawn provision with adequate safeguards.”
• Blocking orders are reviewed through an inter-ministerial committee under IT (Blocking Rules), 2009 before implementation.
• The same provision was used to ban 59 Chinese apps in 2020, including TikTok, UC Browser, and ShareIt.

Significance of IT Act, 2000

• Digital Authentication
  • Provides legal recognition to digital signatures and electronic transactions through secure authentication systems.
• Intermediary Protection (Section 79)
  • Provides safe harbour protection to digital platforms from third-party content if they follow due diligence and government directions.
• Cyber Security Framework
  • Creates penalties for cyber offences like hacking, identity theft, online fraud, data breaches, and tampering with digital records.
• Dispute Resolution
  • Provides institutional mechanisms for handling technology-related disputes and cyber violations.

Issues and Concerns

• Proportionality Concerns
  • Blocking an entire platform affects millions of genuine users for misuse committed by limited criminal actors.
• Enforcement Challenges
  • Website/app blocking can be uneven across service providers and may be bypassed through technologies like VPNs.
• Lack of Transparency
  • Blocking orders are often not publicly disclosed, limiting accountability, judicial review, and public scrutiny.
• Impact on Digital Rights
  • Excessive blocking may affect freedom of speech, access to information, and digital participation.

Way Forward

• Adopt a targeted content removal approach instead of complete platform restrictions wherever possible.
• Increase transparency by publishing reasons for blocking while protecting security concerns.
• Strengthen cooperation between government agencies and digital platforms for faster action against cybercrime.
• Balance national security, cyber safety, and fundamental rights in digital governance.

Conclusion

Section 69A is an important tool for protecting India’s digital security, but its use must follow the principles of necessity, transparency, and proportionality to ensure a balance between cybersecurity and citizens’ digital freedoms.

GOVERNANCE

2. Indian Cities Need to Rethink Their Water Future

Context: Recent heat waves across India have intensified the urban water crisis, driven by declining groundwater levels, shrinking reservoir storage, climate change, and inefficient water management.

Water Scarcity in India: Current Status

• India supports 18% of the world’s population but possesses only 4% of global freshwater resources.
• The World Bank identifies India among the most water-stressed countries.
• Many regions may face severe water scarcity by 2040 due to rising demand, poor management, and climate change.
• Water levels in major reservoirs have fallen below 45% of total capacity, with some reservoirs reaching critically low levels.
• Most of India’s 20 river basins operate at only 30–60% capacity, while Bihar’s Chandan Dam has completely dried up.

Causes of Water Scarcity

• Rapid Urbanisation and Industrial Growth
  • Growing cities and industries have increased water demand and polluted freshwater sources.
• Excessive Groundwater Extraction
  • Overdependence on groundwater for agriculture, domestic use, and industries has caused rapid depletion of aquifers.
• Unsustainable Agriculture
  • Cultivation of water-intensive crops like rice and wheat has increased irrigation demand and groundwater stress.
• Climate Change Impact
  • Changing rainfall patterns, frequent droughts, and extreme temperatures reduce water availability and groundwater recharge.
• Poor Water Governance
  • Weak infrastructure, leakage, inefficient distribution, and lack of conservation worsen the crisis.

Impact of Water Scarcity

• Agriculture Crisis
  • Reduced irrigation availability lowers crop productivity and increases the risk of crop failure.
• Public Health Issues
  • Limited access to safe drinking water and sanitation increases water-borne diseases.
• Environmental Damage
  • Drying rivers, wetlands, and excessive groundwater extraction threaten ecosystems and biodiversity.
• Social Conflicts and Migration
  • Competition over limited water resources can trigger disputes and force migration from drought-prone areas.

Constitutional Provisions Related to Water

• State List (Entry 17): Water supply, irrigation, canals, and water management are primarily State subjects.
• Union List (Entry 56): Centre regulates inter-state rivers and river valleys.
• Article 262: Parliament can provide mechanisms for resolving inter-state water disputes.

Issues in Water Governance

• Fragmented Institutional Structure
  • Water being a State subject creates coordination challenges and jurisdictional conflicts.
• Engineering-Centric Approach
  • Policies focus mainly on dams, canals, and supply creation while ignoring conservation and demand management.
• Agriculture Policy Issues
  • Promotion of water-intensive crops has encouraged unsustainable groundwater use.
• Lack of Ecosystem Approach
  • Limited focus on river health, wetlands, groundwater recharge, and environmental flows damages natural water systems.
• Weak Data Management
  • Absence of reliable and integrated water data affects planning and regulation.
• Neglect of Demand Management
  • Limited focus on water efficiency, recycling, conservation, and rational use increases pressure on resources.

Government Initiatives

• Jal Shakti Abhiyan (2019)
  • Promotes water conservation, rainwater harvesting, and groundwater recharge in water-stressed regions.
• AMRUT 2.0 (2021)
  • Aims to make urban areas water secure through universal water supply, rejuvenation of water bodies, and green spaces.
• Mission Amrit Sarovar
  • Focuses on developing and rejuvenating 75 water bodies in every district.
• National Aquifer Mapping Programme (NAQUIM)
  • Maps aquifers for better groundwater assessment and sustainable management.
• Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater (2020)
  • Plans 42 crore recharge structures to capture nearly 185 BCM rainfall.
• Atal Bhujal Yojana
  • Improves community-based groundwater management in critical and overexploited areas.
• Jal Jeevan Mission (2019)
  • Provides assured safe drinking water through household tap connections in rural India.
• National Water Awards
  • Recognises best practices and encourages public participation in water conservation.

Way Forward

• Public Emergency Water Planning
  • Cities should identify vulnerable areas, prioritise essential water supply, and provide regular updates on availability.
• Reduce Water Losses
  • Urban areas should undertake leak detection, repair pipelines, and minimise distribution losses.
• Efficient Water Use
  • Government buildings, industries, and commercial complexes should conduct water audits and adopt conservation measures.
• Wastewater Management
  • Promote wastewater treatment, recycling, and reuse to reduce pressure on freshwater resources.
• Integrated Water Governance
  • Adopt a coordinated approach linking land, water, climate, agriculture, and urban planning.

Conclusion

India needs to shift from a supply-focused and infrastructure-driven approach towards a model based on sustainability, conservation, efficiency, and equitable water sharing.

Treating water as a finite shared resource is essential for ensuring climate resilience and future urban water security.

The focus should shift from supply augmentation to sustainability, efficiency, and equity.

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