Topper’s Copy

GS2

Governance

15 marks

Why is there a need for a dedicated law to deal with Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse (NCII) in India? Discuss the limitations of the existing legal and policy framework.

Student’s Answer

Evaluation by SuperKalam

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Score:

9.5/15

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5
10
15

Demand of the Question

  • Explain the need for a dedicated NCII law in India
  • Discuss limitations of existing legal framework
  • Discuss limitations of existing policy framework

What you wrote:

Non-consensual intimate image Abuse refers to creating, sharing, morphing or threatening to share intimate images without consent.

→ According to Meta's 2023 women's safety Survey, 1 in 3 women in India have faced image based sexual abuse online. The rising digital penetration makes a dedicated NCII law increasingly urgent.

Non-consensual intimate image Abuse refers to creating, sharing, morphing or threatening to share intimate images without consent.

→ According to Meta's 2023 women's safety Survey, 1 in 3 women in India have faced image based sexual abuse online. The rising digital penetration makes a dedicated NCII law increasingly urgent.

Suggestions to improve:

  • Could briefly mention the constitutional dimension (e.g., violation of Article 21 - right to privacy and dignity) to strengthen the legal foundation.

What you wrote:

Need of NCII law:

(a) growing digital vulnerability: cheap smart-phones, AI-deepfakes and social media platforms enable easy creation and circulation of intimate images.

(b) severe psychological harm: victims face trauma, cyber-stalking, blackmail and social humiliation.

(c) Gender nature of abuse: majority of victims are women, NCII reinforces misogyny and online gender-based violence.

(d) slow grievance redressal: platforms often delay takedowns; no time-bound obligation exists.

Need of NCII law:

(a) growing digital vulnerability: cheap smart-phones, AI-deepfakes and social media platforms enable easy creation and circulation of intimate images.

(b) severe psychological harm: victims face trauma, cyber-stalking, blackmail and social humiliation.

(c) Gender nature of abuse: majority of victims are women, NCII reinforces misogyny and online gender-based violence.

(d) slow grievance redressal: platforms often delay takedowns; no time-bound obligation exists.

Suggestions to improve:

  • Could strengthen with specific examples (e.g., Bulli Bai and Sulli Deals cases where women's photos were auctioned online, highlighting inadequacy of current laws)
  • Can add economic dimension showing how NCII affects women's participation in digital economy and professional spaces

What you wrote:

Limitations of existing legal and policy framework:

① IT Act, 2000 (sections 66E, 67, 67A):
- Focuses on obscenity, not consent.
- Deepfakes and threats not clearly covered.

② IPC 354C (voyeurism) and 354D (stalking):
- Applies only when images are captured, not when they are morphed or shared by third parties.

③ No definition of NCII:
- causes inconsistent police responses.

(d) burden of proof high:
- victims must prove intent and consent issues, which is difficult.

Limitations of existing legal and policy framework:

① IT Act, 2000 (sections 66E, 67, 67A):
- Focuses on obscenity, not consent.
- Deepfakes and threats not clearly covered.

② IPC 354C (voyeurism) and 354D (stalking):
- Applies only when images are captured, not when they are morphed or shared by third parties.

③ No definition of NCII:
- causes inconsistent police responses.

(d) burden of proof high:
- victims must prove intent and consent issues, which is difficult.

Suggestions to improve:

  • Could mention jurisdictional challenges when perpetrators are in different states/countries, making prosecution difficult
  • Can highlight that current laws treat NCII as obscenity offense rather than privacy violation, leading to victim-blaming during trials

What you wrote:

Policy and institutional gaps:

- Intermediary guidelines 2021:
- require takedown after complaint, but no mandatory time limit for NCII removal.

- cyber cells lack capacity:
- poor digital forensics & gender-sensitization.

Policy and institutional gaps:

- Intermediary guidelines 2021:
- require takedown after complaint, but no mandatory time limit for NCII removal.

- cyber cells lack capacity:
- poor digital forensics & gender-sensitization.

Suggestions to improve:

  • Could elaborate on absence of victim compensation schemes and counseling support unlike other gender-based violence laws
  • Can discuss lack of inter-agency coordination between police, cyber cells, and women's commissions for comprehensive response

What you wrote:

→ As India's digital ecosystem expands, a specialised legal framework has become essential to safeguard privacy and bodily autonomy.

→ As India's digital ecosystem expands, a specialised legal framework has become essential to safeguard privacy and bodily autonomy.

Suggestions to improve:


Your answer demonstrates strong analytical skills with systematic coverage of legal gaps and technological challenges. The structure is logical and you've effectively used current data. Consider strengthening policy analysis and adding more contemporary examples to match the depth of your legal framework discussion.

Marks: 9.5/15

Demand of the Question

  • Explain the need for a dedicated NCII law in India
  • Discuss limitations of existing legal framework
  • Discuss limitations of existing policy framework

What you wrote:

Non-consensual intimate image Abuse refers to creating, sharing, morphing or threatening to share intimate images without consent.

→ According to Meta's 2023 women's safety Survey, 1 in 3 women in India have faced image based sexual abuse online. The rising digital penetration makes a dedicated NCII law increasingly urgent.

Non-consensual intimate image Abuse refers to creating, sharing, morphing or threatening to share intimate images without consent.

→ According to Meta's 2023 women's safety Survey, 1 in 3 women in India have faced image based sexual abuse online. The rising digital penetration makes a dedicated NCII law increasingly urgent.

Suggestions to improve:

  • Could briefly mention the constitutional dimension (e.g., violation of Article 21 - right to privacy and dignity) to strengthen the legal foundation.

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