Which important 'e-component' was introduced by the IT Act, 2000?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — D, All of the above. The Information Technology Act, 2000 (India's first cyber law, based on the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce, 1996) legally recognised the Electronic Record (Sec. 4, giving e-documents the same legal status as paper), the Digital Signature (Sec. 3, a cryptographic mechanism authenticating an e-record), and the Certifying Authority (Sec. 17 onward, a licensed body that issues Digital Signature Certificates). All three were introduced together as one linked legal framework for e-commerce, so all three options are correct.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) True but incomplete — the Act introduced this along with the other two listed components, not this alone.  (b) True but incomplete — same reasoning; it is one of three components introduced together.  (c) True but incomplete — same reasoning; it is one of three components introduced together.

Concept: The IT Act, 2000 (in force from 17 October 2000) gave India its legal framework for e-governance and e-commerce, modelled on the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce, 1996. It created three linked legal concepts: the Electronic Record (a document/data stored or transmitted electronically, given the same legal status as a paper record), the Digital Signature (a cryptographic mechanism that authenticates an electronic record and confirms it hasn't been altered), and the Certifying Authority (a licensed body that issues Digital Signature Certificates verifying a signatory's identity).

State PCS 2021 Q26 — Science & Technology PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2021 Q26 — Science & Technology PYQ with Answer