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Behavior and Law

Predicted Questions and Model Answers

Information Technology Act 2000: Definitions and Sections 65–78

Paper III · Unit 3 Section 9 of 11 0 PYQs 23 min
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Predicted Questions and Model Answers

Q1: What is 'private area' under the IT Act 2000, and which section protects it? (5 marks, 50 words)

Model Answer (51 words): Under Section 2(y) of the IT Act 2000 (inserted by the 2008 Amendment), "private area" means the naked or undergarment-clad genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast. Section 66E penalises intentional capture, publication, or transmission of images of a person's private area without consent, with imprisonment up to three years or fine up to ₹2 lakh.

Q2: What offences does Section 66 of the IT Act cover, and what is the punishment? (5 marks, 50 words)

Model Answer (50 words): Section 66 criminalises acts under Section 43 done dishonestly or fraudulently — including unauthorised access to computer systems, downloading data without permission, introducing malware or viruses, disrupting services, and denial-of-access attacks. These computer-related offences carry imprisonment up to three years or fine up to ₹5 lakh, or both. Section 43 is the civil liability counterpart.

Q3: What is cyber terrorism under Section 66F of the IT Act 2000? (5 marks, 50 words)

Model Answer (49 words): Section 66F defines cyber terrorism as denying authorised persons access to computer resources, or penetrating systems without authorisation, with intent to threaten India's unity, integrity, security, or sovereignty, or to strike terror in citizens. It is the most severely punished cybercrime under the IT Act, carrying imprisonment extending to life.

Q4: What is the significance of the Supreme Court's Shreya Singhal judgment in relation to the IT Act 2000? (5 marks, 50 words)

Model Answer (52 words): In Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015), the Supreme Court struck down Section 66A — which penalised "grossly offensive" online communications — as unconstitutional for being vague and overbroad, violating Article 19(1)(a)'s guarantee of freedom of speech. The ruling established that criminalising mere annoyance or inconvenience online creates an impermissible chilling effect on legitimate expression.

Q5: Explain the power of the government under Section 69 of the IT Act 2000. (5 marks, 50 words)

Model Answer (50 words): Section 69 empowers Central and State Governments to direct any government agency to intercept, monitor, or decrypt information transmitted through any computer resource, when necessary for national sovereignty, integrity, security, friendly foreign relations, public order, or prevention of incitement to cognizable offences. Non-compliance by intermediaries or persons is punishable with imprisonment up to seven years.

Q6: What are the key cybercrime provisions added by the IT (Amendment) Act, 2008 to Sections 66A–66F? (5 marks, 50 words)

Model Answer (53 words): The 2008 Amendment inserted Sections 66A through 66F. Section 66A (offensive messages — later struck down) addressed cyber-harassment; 66B penalised receiving stolen computer resources; 66C addressed identity theft; 66D targeted cheating through impersonation; 66E protected privacy by penalising publication of intimate images without consent; and 66F introduced life imprisonment for cyber terrorism threatening national security.