India plans social media code of conduct for government officials

The Indian government is considering the introduction of a first-of-its-kind ‘social media code of conduct’ for its officers and employees. This move follows a rising trend of officials posting personal reels, videos, stories, and opinions on platforms such as X, Facebook, and Instagram, sometimes while on duty.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed top bureaucrats to examine the feasibility of these guidelines. The proposed code aims to prevent officials from using social media to glorify their positions or post undesirable content, addressing a gap in existing conduct rules that were drafted before the rise of social media.

Additionally, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has been instructed to fast-track the ‘Ek Bharat’ portal. This unified digital platform is intended to allow citizens to access various government services through a single username and password, simplifying the current process of navigating multiple websites.