Supreme Court Expands Scope of Right to Privacy in Digital Surveillance Case
The Supreme Court of India ruled that unauthorized digital surveillance by state agencies violates the fundamental right to privacy.
2-Minute Summary (TL;DR)
- Privacy is reaffirmed as a fundamental right under Article 21.
- Surveillance must meet the tests of legality, necessity, and proportionality.
- Mandates an independent oversight mechanism for state surveillance.
- Limits the use of 'national security' as a reason for privacy intrusion.
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. |
| SSC (CGL / CHSL / MTS) | High | 4–6 | Questions on constitutional amendments, Parliament, and schemes appear in every SSC paper. |
| State PCS / PSC | High | 5–10 | State PCS papers test both central and state government structures. |
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 Privacy is protected as an intrinsic part of which Article of the Indian Constitution?
- Article 14
- Article 19
- Article 21
- Article 25
Explanation: The Supreme Court has held that the Right to Privacy is protected under Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty).
Q2. What are the three tests mandated by the SC for any state intrusion into privacy?
- Legality, Necessity, Proportionality
- Speed, Efficiency, Accuracy
- Secrecy, Urgency, Authority
- Consent, Data, Storage
Explanation: The Supreme Court mandated that any intrusion must follow the principles of legality, necessity, and proportionality.
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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