Supreme Court Ruling on Digital Privacy and Surveillance
The Supreme Court of India issued a landmark judgment strengthening the right to privacy against unauthorized digital surveillance.
Key Points for Quick Revision
- Privacy is part of Article 21
- Surveillance must meet legality and proportionality tests
- Mandates independent oversight body
- Strengthens digital rights of citizens
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. Under which Article of the Indian Constitution is the Right to Privacy protected?
- Article 14
- Article 19
- Article 21
- Article 32
Explanation: The Supreme Court has held that the Right to Privacy is an intrinsic part of the Right to Life and Personal Liberty under Article 21.
Q2. What are the three tests mandated by the SC for digital surveillance?
- Legality, Necessity, Proportionality
- Speed, Accuracy, Efficiency
- Secrecy, Security, Sovereignty
- Cost, Benefit, Utility
Explanation: The court ruled that surveillance must be legal, necessary for a legitimate aim, and proportional to the objective.
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.