This is Set 1 of 40 in the smartvidya question bank on the Information Technology Act, 2000, with the latest amendments and rules. Part I: Preliminary and definitions. This set covers Enactment, objectives, UNCITRAL Model Law, extent, extra-territorial application, structure and the First Schedule.
Try each question first, then tap Show answer to see the correct option, a short explanation and the section or rule reference. The questions are useful for departmental and promotion examinations, for law, IT and cyber security students, and for officers who deal with cyber cases.
Set 1: IT Act: Background, Objectives and Application
1. The Information Technology Act, 2000 is
(a) Act No. 10 of 2000
(b) Act No. 22 of 2000
(c) Act No. 18 of 2000
(d) Act No. 21 of 2000
Ans. (d) Act No. 21 of 2000 — Explanation: The IT Act was enacted as Act No. 21 of 2000. [Ref: Section 1]
2. The IT Act, 2000 came into force on
(a) 27 October 2009
(b) 1 April 2001
(c) 9 June 2000
(d) 17 October 2000
Ans. (d) 17 October 2000 — Explanation: The Act received assent on 9 June 2000 and was brought into force on 17 October 2000. [Ref: Section 1(3)]
3. The IT Act, 2000 is based largely on
(a) the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime
(b) the EU General Data Protection Regulation
(c) the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce, 1996
(d) the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act
Ans. (c) the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce, 1996 — Explanation: The Preamble refers to the UN General Assembly resolution adopting the Model Law on Electronic Commerce. [Ref: Preamble]
4. A main objective of the IT Act, 2000 as stated in its Preamble is to
(a) regulate television broadcasting
(b) provide legal recognition for transactions carried out by electronic data interchange and other means of electronic communication
(c) protect copyright in software only
(d) regulate telecom tariffs
Ans. (b) provide legal recognition for transactions carried out by electronic data interchange and other means of electronic communication — Explanation: The Act gives legal recognition to electronic commerce and facilitates electronic filing with Government. [Ref: Preamble]
5. The IT Act, 2000 extends to
(a) only Union Territories
(b) the whole of India
(c) the whole of India except Jammu and Kashmir
(d) only metropolitan cities
Ans. (b) the whole of India — Explanation: Section 1(2) extends the Act to the whole of India. [Ref: Section 1(2)]
6. Under Section 1(2), the IT Act also applies to any offence or contravention committed outside India by
(a) companies only
(b) Indian citizens only
(c) Government servants only
(d) any person
Ans. (d) any person — Explanation: Section 1(2) read with Section 75 gives extra-territorial reach. [Ref: Sections 1(2) and 75]
7. Under Section 75, the Act applies to an offence committed outside India by any person if the act involves
(a) a computer, computer system or computer network located in India
(b) Indian currency
(c) a foreign website only
(d) any foreign bank
Ans. (a) a computer, computer system or computer network located in India — Explanation: The connecting factor is a computer resource in India. [Ref: Section 75(2)]
8. The First Schedule to the IT Act lists
(a) amendments to the Evidence Act
(b) forms of electronic signature
(c) offences and punishments
(d) documents or transactions to which the Act shall not apply
Ans. (d) documents or transactions to which the Act shall not apply — Explanation: Section 1(4) read with the First Schedule excludes certain documents. [Ref: Section 1(4); First Schedule]
9. Which of these is listed in the First Schedule as a document to which the IT Act does not apply?
(a) An electronic invoice
(b) An e-mail
(c) A will
(d) A cheque
Ans. (c) A will — Explanation: Wills are excluded from electronic execution under the First Schedule. [Ref: First Schedule]
10. Which of these is NOT in the First Schedule exclusions?
(a) A cheque, including a truncated cheque
(b) A contract for sale or conveyance of immovable property
(c) A power of attorney
(d) A trust as defined in the Indian Trusts Act
Ans. (a) A cheque, including a truncated cheque — Explanation: The exclusion covers negotiable instruments other than a cheque. [Ref: First Schedule]
11. The First Schedule excludes negotiable instruments
(a) other than a cheque
(b) including cheques
(c) only bills of exchange in foreign currency
(d) only promissory notes issued by banks
Ans. (a) other than a cheque — Explanation: Cheques are not excluded, so truncated and electronic cheques are recognised. [Ref: First Schedule]
12. Who may amend the First Schedule by notification?
(a) Parliament only
(b) The Central Government
(c) The Controller of Certifying Authorities
(d) The CERT-In
Ans. (b) The Central Government — Explanation: Section 1(5) allows the Central Government to amend the First Schedule by notification, to be laid before Parliament. [Ref: Section 1(5)]
13. The IT Act, 2000 was substantially amended by
(a) the IT (Amendment) Act, 2015
(b) the Telecom Act, 2023
(c) the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008
(d) the Finance Act, 2010
Ans. (c) the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008 — Explanation: The 2008 amendment introduced electronic signatures, new offences, intermediary provisions and CERT-In. [Ref: IT (Amendment) Act, 2008]
14. The IT (Amendment) Act, 2008 came into force on
(a) 1 April 2009
(b) 24 March 2015
(c) 17 October 2000
(d) 27 October 2009
Ans. (d) 27 October 2009 — Explanation: The amendments were brought into force on 27 October 2009. [Ref: IT (Amendment) Act, 2008]
15. The IT Act originally had how many sections?
(a) One hundred
(b) Ninety
(c) Ninety-four
(d) Eighty-one
Ans. (c) Ninety-four — Explanation: The Act was enacted with 94 sections; several have since been inserted with letters, such as 43A and 66F. [Ref: Arrangement of Sections]
16. Chapter XI of the IT Act deals with
(a) the Appellate Tribunal
(b) penalties, compensation and adjudication
(c) offences
(d) intermediaries
Ans. (c) offences — Explanation: Chapter XI contains Sections 65 to 78 of the Act. [Ref: Chapter XI]
17. Chapter IX of the IT Act deals with
(a) penalties, compensation and adjudication
(b) certifying authorities
(c) electronic governance
(d) offences
Ans. (a) penalties, compensation and adjudication — Explanation: Chapter IX contains Sections 43 to 47 of the Act. [Ref: Chapter IX]
18. Chapter XII of the IT Act deals with
(a) miscellaneous provisions
(b) duties of subscribers
(c) the Appellate Tribunal
(d) intermediaries not to be liable in certain cases
Ans. (d) intermediaries not to be liable in certain cases — Explanation: Chapter XII contains Section 79 of the Act. [Ref: Chapter XII]
19. Chapter XIIA, inserted in 2009, deals with
(a) online gaming
(b) the Examiner of Electronic Evidence
(c) cyber terrorism
(d) data protection
Ans. (b) the Examiner of Electronic Evidence — Explanation: Section 79A provides for notifying Examiners of Electronic Evidence. [Ref: Section 79A]
20. The nodal ministry for the IT Act is
(a) the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
(b) the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
(c) the Ministry of Home Affairs
(d) the Ministry of Law and Justice
Ans. (b) the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology — Explanation: MeitY administers the Act and frames most rules under it. [Ref: Section 87]
21. Which statement about the IT Act, 2000 is correct?
(a) It provides both civil remedies (penalties and compensation) and criminal offences
(b) It only deals with e-commerce contracts
(c) It applies only to Government websites
(d) It only creates offences
Ans. (a) It provides both civil remedies (penalties and compensation) and criminal offences — Explanation: Chapter IX deals with civil liability and Chapter XI with offences. [Ref: Chapters IX and XI]
22. The IT Act gives legal recognition to electronic records mainly to facilitate
(a) stamp duty collection
(b) physical record keeping
(c) e-commerce and e-governance
(d) postal services
Ans. (c) e-commerce and e-governance — Explanation: Recognition of electronic records and signatures supports e-commerce and e-governance. [Ref: Preamble; Sections 4 to 6]
23. The IT Act, 2000 received the assent of the President on
(a) 17 October 2000
(b) 15 August 2000
(c) 26 January 2000
(d) 9 June 2000
Ans. (d) 9 June 2000 — Explanation: Assent was given on 9 June 2000; the Act came into force on 17 October 2000. [Ref: Section 1]
24. Consider: (i) The IT Act applies to offences committed outside India involving a computer in India. (ii) A will can be executed electronically under the IT Act. Which is correct?
(a) Only (i)
(b) Only (ii)
(c) Both (i) and (ii)
(d) Neither (i) nor (ii)
Ans. (a) Only (i) — Explanation: Wills are excluded by the First Schedule. [Ref: Sections 1(4) and 75]
25. The Second Schedule to the IT Act, as it stands today, deals with
(a) offences
(b) electronic signature or electronic authentication techniques and procedures
(c) excluded documents
(d) penalties
Ans. (b) electronic signature or electronic authentication techniques and procedures — Explanation: The Second Schedule lists techniques such as e-authentication using Aadhaar e-KYC. [Ref: Second Schedule; Section 3A]
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Next: Set 2. See all sets under the label IT Act. For exam preparation, attempt the full set before checking answers and revise the topic of every question you miss.
These questions are prepared for practice from the Information Technology Act, 2000 as amended (including the 2008 amendment, the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023 and the DPDP Act, 2023), the IT Rules, 2021 with amendments up to 2026, and the CERT-In Directions. Check the latest notifications from MeitY before relying on any detail.