Supreme Court Recognizes 'Right to be Forgotten' as Fundamental Right
The Supreme Court of India has ruled that the 'Right to be Forgotten' is an intrinsic part of the Right to Privacy under Article 21.
2-Minute Summary (TL;DR)
- The Supreme Court declared the 'Right to be Forgotten' a fundamental right.
- It is recognized as a part of the Right to Privacy under Article 21.
- Allows individuals to seek removal of irrelevant or private data from the internet.
- The court called for a balance between privacy and the public's right to information.
How This Topic is Tested in Competitive Exams
| Exam | Frequency | Approx. Marks | What Gets Asked |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPSC / State PCS | Very High | 15–25 | Polity is a core UPSC subject. Both Prelims and Mains test constitutional provisions in depth. |
| State PCS / PSC | High | 5–10 | State PCS papers test both central and state government structures. |
| SSC (CGL / CHSL / MTS) | High | 4–6 | Questions on constitutional amendments, Parliament, and schemes appear in every SSC paper. |
What to Memorize from This Topic
- Article numbers related to the topic (e.g., Article 356 for President's Rule)
- Constitutional bodies: composition, tenure, appointment authority
- Recent amendments and their impact
- Supreme Court / High Court judgements mentioned in news
- Government schemes: ministry, launch year, beneficiaries
Practice Questions
Q1. The 'Right to be Forgotten' is recognized under which Article of the Indian Constitution?
- Article 14
- Article 19
- Article 21
- Article 25
Explanation: The Supreme Court linked the Right to be Forgotten to the Right to Privacy under Article 21.
Q2. What does the 'Right to be Forgotten' primarily allow an individual to do?
- Change their legal name
- Remove personal data from public digital platforms
- Access government records
- Vote in any constituency
Explanation: It allows individuals to request the removal of personal information from search engines and databases.
How to Prepare Indian Polity & Governance for Government Exams
Map every news item to an Article or provision in the Constitution. This is what UPSC Prelims directly tests.
For SSC and Railway, focus on the practical side — who appoints whom, term lengths, and what each body does.
Note the date and context of any constitutional amendment or ordinance. Questions are often framed around the 'first time' or 'most recent' event.
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