New Delhi: The Indian central government is considering the introduction of a dedicated social media code of conduct for all civil servants and government employees, regardless of rank. As reported by PTI, the proposal follows growing concerns over officials using platforms such as Instagram, X, and Facebook to post workplace reels, videos, and self-promotional content that glorifies their official positions. Official sources cited in reports noted that there is currently no specific framework governing public servants' personal social media activity, prompting the need for a formalised administrative code.

Defining Boundaries for Civil Servants

The proposed guidelines aim to establish clear boundaries separating personal online profiles from official state identities. According to reports, high-level discussions chaired by Cabinet Secretary T.V. Somanathan examined the necessity of preventing government personnel from sharing videos filmed on duty, broadcasting live streams from offices, or expressing personal opinions on sensitive policy matters. While individual states like Bihar have previously introduced local restrictions on workplace posting, the central framework seeks to create uniform standards prohibiting employees from using public platforms to highlight routine administrative work for personal brand-building.

Alignment with Broader Digital Governance

The internal administrative code arrives alongside a broader tightening of India's overall digital regulatory landscape. The government recently amended the Information Technology Rules, 2021, drastically reducing the timeline for social media platforms to remove unlawful or sensitive content upon receiving official notices from 36 hours down to three hours. By imposing stricter digital decorum on its own workforce while holding external tech platforms accountable, the Centre aims to safeguard administrative integrity and ensure that official duties take precedence over online content creation.