What is the common examiner trap about Polity in UPSC exams?

The order is under Section 79(3)(b), NOT Section 69A. Examiners may ask: 'Under which provision of the IT Act was the BitChat blocking order issued?' The trap is that Section 69A is the usual blocking provision, but the government used Section 79(3)(b) here. Also, note that Section 79 itself does not confer blocking power — this is a key legal nuance.

What should UPSC aspirants remember about Polity for Prelims?

1. Target this Data: Notice No. 11072601011432 issued at 11:16 PM on July 23, 2026 2. Target this Legal Point: Section 79(3)(b) of IT Act, 2000 read with Rule 3(1)(d) of IT (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules, 2021 3. Target this Judgment: Anuradha Bhasin vs Union of India (proportionality in internet restrictions)

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News 7 of 22

Govt Blocks BitChat Repositories Under IT Act Section 79(3)(b) Over Decentralised Mesh Network Concerns

Q: Which provision of the Information Technology Act, 2000 was cited in the government order to disable BitChat repositories on GitHub?

Section 79(3)(b), The government order specifically invoked Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, 2000, read with Rule 3(1)(d) of the IT Rules, 2021. Section 69A is the usual blocking provision but was not used here. Section 66A (struck down by SC) and Section 43A (data protection) are unrelated.

Q: Consider the following statements regarding the government order to disable BitChat: 1. The order was issued under Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000, which requires a hearing and reasons in writing. 2. BitChat operates over a decentralised Bluetooth mesh network that requires no internet connection or central server. 3. The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) criticised the order, arguing that anticipated misuse of a tool is not a lawful basis to prohibit it. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Both 2 and 3, Statement 1 is incorrect because the order was issued under Section 79(3)(b), not Section 69A. Statement 2 is correct: BitChat uses a decentralised Bluetooth mesh network, no internet or servers. Statement 3 is correct: IFF criticised the order on the grounds that anticipated misuse is not a lawful basis to prohibit a tool.

Q: At what time was the government notice (No. 11072601011432) issued to GitHub for disabling BitChat repositories?

11:16 PM on July 23, 2026, The article explicitly states: 'The order, Notice No. 11072601011432, was issued at 11.16 p.m. on July 23, 2026.' Options A, C, and D are distractors based on other timestamps in the article (publication time, update time).

Q: What is the primary legal concern raised by critics regarding the government's order to block BitChat repositories?

The order blocks a tool based on its potential for misuse rather than any identified unlawful content, The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) specifically argued that 'Anticipated misuse of a communications tool is not a lawful basis to prohibit the tool.' The article highlights that the order relies on the application's potential for misuse rather than identifying any unlawful content hosted in the repositories.

Polity Security & Defence Science & TechHIGH

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link

24 Jul 2026

~2 min

Source: The Hindu

Key Data:Notice No. 11072601011432July 23, 2026 at 11:16 PMSection 79(3)(b), IT Act, 2000Rule 3(1)(d), IT Rules, 20213-hour compliance deadline

Bodies:GitHubInternet Freedom Foundation (IFF)Supreme Court

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What This Article Covers

1.Government issued notice to GitHub to block BitChat repositories under Section 79(3)(b) of IT Act, 2000, citing misuse potential for anonymous coordination during protests, riots, and terrorism.

2.BitChat is a decentralised, serverless peer-to-peer messaging app operating over Bluetooth mesh networks, enabling communication without internet, phone numbers, or centralised logging.

3.Legal experts and the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) have criticised the order, arguing that anticipated misuse is not a lawful basis to block a tool, and highlighting the need for proportionality as per the Supreme Court's Anuradha Bhasin judgment.

The Big Picture

Prelims · HighMains · High

The Indian government has ordered GitHub to disable three BitChat repositories, citing national security and public order concerns over its decentralised Bluetooth mesh network that evades lawful surveillance. The order, issued under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, 2000, has sparked debate on proportionality and the legal basis for blocking tools based on anticipated misuse, with the Supreme Court's Anuradha Bhasin judgment on proportionality becoming a key reference.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Order Issued ToGitHub

Legal BasisSection 79(3)(b), IT Act, 2000 read with Rule 3(1)(d), IT Rules, 2021

Notice Number11072601011432

Date & TimeJuly 23, 2026 at 11:16 PM

Compliance DeadlineWithin 3 hours

Platform ConcernedBitChat (decentralised peer-to-peer messaging app over Bluetooth mesh)

1-Minute Revision

›Order Issued To: GitHub
›Legal Basis: Section 79(3)(b), IT Act, 2000 read with Rule 3(1)(d), IT Rules, 2021
›Target this Data: Notice No. 11072601011432 issued at 11:16 PM on July 23, 2026
›Target this Legal Point: Section 79(3)(b) of IT Act, 2000 read with Rule 3(1)(d) of IT (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules, 2021
›Target this Judgment: Anuradha Bhasin vs Union of India (proportionality in internet restrictions)

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News Snapshot

📡

BitChat: Decentralised Mesh Network

BitChat operates without internet or servers, using Bluetooth to create ad hoc networks where each device relays messages, enabling censorship-resistant and surveillance-resistant communication.

⚖️

Govt Blocking Order Under IT Act

The government directed GitHub to disable three repositories of BitChat within three hours, citing potential misuse for unlawful assemblies, terrorism, and circumvention of internet shutdowns.

🔍

Legal & Constitutional Concerns

IFF and legal experts argue that blocking based on anticipated misuse violates proportionality; the Supreme Court in Anuradha Bhasin held that restrictions must be territorially and temporally proportionate.

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

BitChat gained prominence as protesters increasingly relied on Bluetooth-enabled messaging platforms during repeated internet shutdowns near protest sites. Its decentralised architecture — no servers, no phone numbers, no central logging — makes it resistant to surveillance and censorship, but also raises concerns for law enforcement.

Core Analysis & Implications

The order under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, 2000, read with Rule 3(1)(d) of the IT Rules, 2021, targets the platform's potential for misuse rather than any identified unlawful content. This approach has been criticised as legally weak because Section 79 itself does not confer blocking power — blocking directions ordinarily require Section 69A and the Blocking Rules, 2009, which mandate a hearing and reasons in writing.

Future Outlook / Way Forward

The controversy may lead to judicial review, testing the balance between national security and freedom of speech under Article 19(1)(a). The Supreme Court's Anuradha Bhasin judgment on proportionality will likely be central — requiring that any restriction be limited in territorial extent, duration, and tailored to the actual emergency. The outcome could set a precedent for regulating decentralised communication tools.

Key Facts at a Glance

Order Issued ToGitHub

Legal BasisSection 79(3)(b), IT Act, 2000 read with Rule 3(1)(d), IT Rules, 2021

Notice Number11072601011432

Date & TimeJuly 23, 2026 at 11:16 PM

Compliance DeadlineWithin 3 hours

Platform ConcernedBitChat (decentralised peer-to-peer messaging app over Bluetooth mesh)

You've read the full analysis. Now test your understanding.

Practice exam-style questions based on this article.

Q1Static LinkageEasyUPSC, SSC, State PSC

Which provision of the Information Technology Act, 2000 was cited in the government order to disable BitChat repositories on GitHub?

Q2Statement-basedHardUPSC, SSC

Consider the following statements regarding the government order to disable BitChat:

1. The order was issued under Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000, which requires a hearing and reasons in writing.

2. BitChat operates over a decentralised Bluetooth mesh network that requires no internet connection or central server.

3. The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) criticised the order, arguing that anticipated misuse of a tool is not a lawful basis to prohibit it.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMediumUPSC, Banking, SSC

At what time was the government notice (No. 11072601011432) issued to GitHub for disabling BitChat repositories?

Q4Application/ImpactMediumUPSC, SSC, State PSC

What is the primary legal concern raised by critics regarding the government's order to block BitChat repositories?

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Govt Blocks BitChat Repositories Under IT Act Section 79(3)(b) Over Decentralised Mesh Network Concerns

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

1-Minute Revision

News Snapshot

BitChat: Decentralised Mesh Network

Govt Blocking Order Under IT Act

Legal & Constitutional Concerns

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

Core Analysis & Implications

Future Outlook / Way Forward

Prelims Flashpoints

Key Facts at a Glance