Explained | The Telecommunications Act, 2023 comes into force
The article explains the coming into force of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, and its recently notified rules. This new legislation replaces the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, and the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, aiming to simplify India's telecom ecosystem. Key provisions include renaming the Universal Service Obligation Fund to Digital Bharat Nidhi, granting the government powers to regulate messaging apps and seize telecom infrastructure for national security, and retaining senior officials' authority for phone and internet tapping orders. The Act also shifts from a licensing to an 'authorisation' regime for telecom operators, adds anti-spam enforcement, and recognizes satellite internet, though implementation details are still awaited.
The article explains the coming into force of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, and its recently notified rules. This new legislation replaces the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, and the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, aiming to simplify India's telecom ecosystem. Key provisions include renaming the Universal Service Obligation Fund to Digital Bharat Nidhi, granting the government powers to regulate messaging apps and seize telecom infrastructure for national security, and retaining senior officials' authority for phone and internet tapping orders. The Act also shifts from a licensing to an 'authorisation' regime for telecom operators, adds anti-spam enforcement, and recognizes satellite internet, though implementation details are still awaited.
Exam linkage
GS Paper II: Indian Polity & Governance - Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Syllabus mapping
This topic appears in Mains
Questions on Indian Polity & Governance come up regularly in GS papers. Practice writing an answer — and see exactly what earns marks.