Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The Information Technology Act, 2000 was a comprehensive legislation designed to address the new realities of the digital age. Its objectives were multifaceted, covering commercial, administrative, and penal aspects of information technology.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The preamble and various provisions of the IT Act, 2000, reveal its broad objectives:
- (A) E-commerce Sanction: A primary goal was to grant legal recognition to electronic records and digital signatures, thereby providing a legal framework for and encouraging e-commerce transactions.
- (B) Electronic Filing (E-Governance): The Act aimed to facilitate the electronic filing of documents with Government agencies and also the electronic storage of data. This is a key component of e-governance.
- (C) Amending other laws for Cyber Crimes: The Act did not just create new offenses (like hacking). It also made consequential amendments to other key statutes like the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, and the Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1891, to align them with the new digital reality and make electronic evidence admissible.
Since the Act's objectives included all the points mentioned, the correct answer is (D).
Step 3: Final Answer:
The objectives of the IT Act, 2000, included providing legal sanction for e-commerce, facilitating e-governance, and amending existing penal and evidentiary laws to deal with cybercrimes.
| List-I | List-II |
|---|---|
| (A) Cyber Appellate Tribunal | (III) Resolves disputes arising from cyber crime. |
| (B) Environmental Protection Act 1986 | (I) Punishes people causing pollution. |
| (C) Indian Information Technology Act 2000 | (IV) Provides guidelines on storage, processing and transmission of sensitive data. |
| (D) Central Pollution Control Board | (II) Provides guidelines for proper handling and disposal of e-waste. |