This is Set 7 of 40 in the smartvidya question bank on the Information Technology Act, 2000, with the latest amendments and rules. Part II: Signatures, e-governance and electronic records. This set covers Sections 14 to 16: secure electronic record, secure electronic signature and security procedures and practices.
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Set 7: Chapter V: Secure Electronic Records and Signatures
1. Under Section 14, where any security procedure has been applied to an electronic record at a specific point of time, the record is deemed
(a) invalid
(b) a public document forever
(c) a digital signature
(d) a secure electronic record from that point of time to the time of verification
Ans. (d) a secure electronic record from that point of time to the time of verification — Explanation: Section 14 defines a secure electronic record. [Ref: Section 14]
2. Under Section 15, an electronic signature is deemed secure if
(a) it is typed in bold
(b) it is approved by an intermediary
(c) it is printed on letterhead
(d) the signature creation data at the time of affixing was under the exclusive control of the signatory and was stored and affixed in the prescribed manner
Ans. (d) the signature creation data at the time of affixing was under the exclusive control of the signatory and was stored and affixed in the prescribed manner — Explanation: Section 15 was substituted in 2009. [Ref: Section 15]
3. "Signature creation data" in the Explanation to Section 15 in the case of a digital signature means
(a) the private key of the subscriber
(b) the certificate number
(c) the public key
(d) the hash result
Ans. (a) the private key of the subscriber — Explanation: The Explanation clarifies this. [Ref: Section 15, Explanation]
4. Section 16 empowers the Central Government to prescribe
(a) penalties for hacking
(b) security procedures and practices for secure electronic records and secure electronic signatures
(c) blocking procedure
(d) duties of intermediaries
Ans. (b) security procedures and practices for secure electronic records and secure electronic signatures — Explanation: Section 16 deals with security procedures and practices. [Ref: Section 16]
5. While prescribing security procedures, the Central Government shall have regard to
(a) the views of intermediaries only
(b) the commercial circumstances, nature of transactions and such other related factors as it may consider appropriate
(c) only cost
(d) only foreign practice
Ans. (b) the commercial circumstances, nature of transactions and such other related factors as it may consider appropriate — Explanation: The proviso to Section 16, as substituted with effect from 27 October 2009, lists these factors. [Ref: Section 16, proviso]
6. Chapter V of the IT Act is titled
(a) Secure Electronic Records and Secure Electronic Signatures
(b) Electronic Governance
(c) Regulation of Certifying Authorities
(d) Duties of Subscribers
Ans. (a) Secure Electronic Records and Secure Electronic Signatures — Explanation: Chapter V contains Sections 14 to 16 of the Act. [Ref: Chapter V]
7. The concept of a secure electronic record matters mainly for
(a) fixing penalties
(b) blocking content
(c) taxing transactions
(d) presumptions of authenticity in legal proceedings
Ans. (d) presumptions of authenticity in legal proceedings — Explanation: Secure records enjoy evidentiary presumptions under the evidence law. [Ref: Section 14]
8. The Information Technology (Security Procedure) Rules, 2004 were framed under
(a) Section 69A
(b) Section 79
(c) Section 16
(d) Section 43A
Ans. (c) Section 16 — Explanation: These rules prescribe security procedures for secure electronic signatures. [Ref: Section 16]
9. A secure electronic signature requires that the signature creation data be under
(a) the exclusive control of the signatory at the time of affixing
(b) the control of the Controller
(c) the control of the CA
(d) joint control
Ans. (a) the exclusive control of the signatory at the time of affixing — Explanation: Exclusive control is a condition in Section 15 of the Act. [Ref: Section 15]
10. Section 14 deems a record secure from the time the security procedure was applied until
(a) the end of the year
(b) the time of sending
(c) the time of verification
(d) the time of printing
Ans. (c) the time of verification — Explanation: The period runs till verification. [Ref: Section 14]
11. Consider: (i) Section 14 deals with secure electronic records. (ii) Section 16 lets the Central Government prescribe security procedures. Which is correct?
(a) Only (i)
(b) Only (ii)
(c) Both (i) and (ii)
(d) Neither (i) nor (ii)
Ans. (c) Both (i) and (ii) — Explanation: Both are correct. [Ref: Sections 14 and 16]
12. Before 2009, Section 15 dealt with secure digital signatures; after 2009 it deals with
(a) offences
(b) intermediaries
(c) secure electronic signatures
(d) penalties
Ans. (c) secure electronic signatures — Explanation: Section 15 was substituted by the 2008 amendment. [Ref: Section 15]
13. Section 16 security procedures help determine whether
(a) a contract is stamped
(b) a website is legal
(c) an electronic record or signature is secure for legal purposes
(d) a person is guilty
Ans. (c) an electronic record or signature is secure for legal purposes — Explanation: Prescribed procedures underpin the secure status. [Ref: Section 16]
14. Which section deals with "security procedures and practices"?
(a) Section 16
(b) Section 15
(c) Section 14
(d) Section 43A
Ans. (a) Section 16 — Explanation: Section 16 is the relevant section; Section 43A deals with reasonable security practices for sensitive data. [Ref: Section 16]
15. The word "secure" in Chapter V refers primarily to
(a) encryption of all data
(b) integrity and reliability of the record or signature from the time security is applied
(c) offline storage
(d) physical locking of computers
Ans. (b) integrity and reliability of the record or signature from the time security is applied — Explanation: The chapter focuses on integrity and reliability. [Ref: Chapter V]
16. Which of these factors is listed in Section 16 for prescribing procedures?
(a) Nationality of the parties
(b) Commercial circumstances
(c) Political sensitivity
(d) Size of the server
Ans. (b) Commercial circumstances — Explanation: The proviso to Section 16 refers to commercial circumstances, nature of transactions and other related factors; the older list of factors was replaced in 2009. [Ref: Section 16, proviso]
17. Assertion (A): A record is treated as secure only from the time a prescribed security procedure is applied. Reason (R): Section 14 links the secure status to the specific point of time when the procedure was applied.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans. (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A — Explanation: Section 14 supports the assertion. [Ref: Section 14]
18. Section 15 requires that the electronic signature be stored and affixed in the manner
(a) chosen by the user
(b) decided by the intermediary
(c) decided by the court
(d) prescribed
Ans. (d) prescribed — Explanation: Prescribed manner is a condition. [Ref: Section 15]
19. The provisions of Chapter V help courts trust electronic records through
(a) penalties on parties
(b) presumptions about secure electronic records and secure electronic signatures in evidence law
(c) licences
(d) blocking orders
Ans. (b) presumptions about secure electronic records and secure electronic signatures in evidence law — Explanation: Evidence law presumes integrity of secure records unless contrary is proved. [Ref: Chapter V]
20. "Security procedure" is defined in
(a) Section 2(1)(f)
(b) Section 2(1)(k)
(c) Section 2(1)(zf)
(d) Section 2(1)(w)
Ans. (c) Section 2(1)(zf) — Explanation: It means the procedure prescribed under Section 16 of the Act. [Ref: Section 2(1)(zf)]
21. Which section was substituted by the 2008 amendment to refer to electronic signatures?
(a) Section 14
(b) Section 13
(c) Section 11
(d) Section 15
Ans. (d) Section 15 — Explanation: Section 15 now refers to secure electronic signatures. [Ref: Section 15]
22. Under Section 15, if signature creation data were shared with another person, the signature
(a) would be more secure
(b) would not satisfy the exclusive control test for a secure electronic signature
(c) would be a digital signature automatically
(d) would be valid only for Government
Ans. (b) would not satisfy the exclusive control test for a secure electronic signature — Explanation: Exclusive control is essential. [Ref: Section 15]
23. Chapter V lies between
(a) Chapter IX and Chapter X
(b) Chapter II and Chapter III
(c) Chapter XI and Chapter XII
(d) Chapter IV on attribution and Chapter VI on Certifying Authorities
Ans. (d) Chapter IV on attribution and Chapter VI on Certifying Authorities — Explanation: Chapter V comes after Chapter IV. [Ref: Arrangement of Sections]
24. Security procedures under Section 16 are prescribed by
(a) the Central Government
(b) CERT-In
(c) the Controller alone
(d) the State Governments
Ans. (a) the Central Government — Explanation: Section 16 vests the power in the Central Government. [Ref: Section 16]
25. A secure electronic record is one to which
(a) no procedure has been applied
(b) only a password has been applied
(c) a watermark has been added
(d) a security procedure has been applied at a specific point in time
Ans. (d) a security procedure has been applied at a specific point in time — Explanation: Section 14 definition. [Ref: Section 14]
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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.