New digital governance framework to take effect from November 15
S Gopal Puri
Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh government has issued a notification authorising senior officials from the Departments of Information and Public Relations and Police to implement and oversee provisions under the newly amended Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2025.
According to the official notification (No. IT-A003/3/2025-(E-303698)) issued by the Department of Digital Technologies and Governance, the Government of India had earlier notified these amended rules on October 22, 2025, which will come into effect from November 15, 2025.
In exercise of the powers conferred by the amendment, the Governor of Himachal Pradesh has authorised the following officers to discharge functions as specified under Rule 3, sub-rule (1), clause (d) of the new IT rules:
- Director, Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR)
- Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order), Himachal Pradesh
- Additional Director General of Police (State CID), Himachal Pradesh
- Inspector General of Police (Intelligence, CID), Himachal Pradesh
- Inspector General of Police (Crime), Himachal Pradesh
Additionally, the Administrative Secretary, Department of Information and Public Relations, has been designated as the officer responsible for the periodic review of all intimations issued under Clause 2(d) of the rules.
The notification, issued by the Chief Secretary on behalf of the Governor of Himachal Pradesh, marks a significant step in the state’s implementation of the amended IT and Digital Media Ethics Code, which aims to enhance accountability, transparency and compliance within the digital and social media ecosystem.
Copies of the order have been forwarded to all Administrative Secretaries, the Director General of Police, Heads of Departments, Deputy Commissioners, and Superintendents of Police across the state for necessary action.
The notification was signed by Vijay Kumar Chauhan, Secretary (Digital Technologies & Governance) to the Government of Himachal Pradesh. With this move, Himachal Pradesh becomes one of the early states to formally operationalise the amended digital governance framework announced by the Centre last month.
