Have you ever had a social media account suspended, a post removed or a complaint ignored by an online platform? If the platform's Grievance Officer does not resolve your complaint satisfactorily, you may be able to challenge the decision before the Government of India's Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC).
The Grievance Appellate Committee is an online appeal mechanism established under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. It allows users to challenge decisions made by the Grievance Officers of social media platforms and other covered online intermediaries. It also covers specified cases where an intermediary fails to resolve a grievance within the applicable period.
GAC provides an additional level of grievance redressal beyond a platform's internal complaint system. It can review eligible appeals and issue orders that the concerned intermediary must follow under the rules.
Important: GAC does not investigate cybercrime, recover money lost in online fraud or guarantee that a suspended account will be restored. Its role is limited to appeals involving grievance decisions and obligations of covered intermediaries under the IT Rules.
What Is the Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC)?
The Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC) is a Government-established mechanism that reviews eligible appeals against decisions or qualifying inaction by the Grievance Officers of online intermediaries.
The Central Government introduced GAC through the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2022. These amendments inserted Rule 3A into the IT Rules, 2021.
The Government constituted three Grievance Appellate Committees through a notification dated 27 January 2023. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) subsequently launched the GAC online platform in February 2023.
The mechanism aims to give users another avenue when an online platform rejects their grievance or fails to address it within the prescribed period. Instead of relying entirely on the platform's internal complaint process, an eligible user can seek an independent review through the GAC system.
You can access the mechanism through the official Grievance Appellate Committee portal.
Why Did the Government Establish GAC?
Online platforms make decisions that can directly affect users. They may remove posts, restrict access to accounts, suspend profiles or take action against information shared through their services.
Users may disagree with these decisions or feel that a platform has not handled their complaints properly. Before GAC was introduced, users primarily depended on the intermediary's own grievance-redressal system for such matters.
The Government introduced Rule 3A to create an additional appellate mechanism. Its main objectives include:
- Providing users with an appeal option against eligible decisions of platform Grievance Officers.
- Addressing specified grievances that remain unresolved within the applicable period.
- Improving accountability among social media platforms and other intermediaries.
- Supporting a time-bound and transparent grievance-redressal process.
- Providing a digital mechanism through which users can submit appeals and receive decisions.
- Requiring the concerned intermediary to comply with GAC orders and publish a compliance report.
The Government explained the purpose of the framework in its official announcement on the establishment of GAC.
Which Law Governs the Grievance Appellate Committee?
GAC operates under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
Rule 3A of the IT Rules specifically provides for appeals to one or more Grievance Appellate Committees. It establishes their composition, appeal process, decision-making responsibilities and the obligation of intermediaries to comply with their orders.
The framework has also evolved through subsequent amendments. The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2026, notified through G.S.R. 120(E) on 10 February 2026, came into force on 20 February 2026. These amendments changed several intermediary grievance-redressal timelines and introduced additional obligations relating to synthetically generated information.
Although the 2026 amendments changed the timelines for handling complaints at the platform level, the GAC appeal mechanism continues to operate under Rule 3A. Users should therefore distinguish between the time a platform gets to handle the original grievance and the time available to file an appeal before GAC.
For the latest legal provisions, refer to the consolidated IT Rules, 2021, as updated in February 2026, and MeitY's official FAQ on the 2026 amendments.
How Is GAC Different From a Platform's Grievance Officer?
A platform's Grievance Officer and the Grievance Appellate Committee perform different functions. The Grievance Officer handles the original complaint, while GAC reviews eligible appeals against the officer's decision or qualifying failure to resolve a grievance.
| Body | Main responsibility |
|---|---|
| Platform's Grievance Officer | Receives and handles user complaints under the intermediary's grievance-redressal mechanism. |
| Grievance Appellate Committee | Reviews eligible appeals against the Grievance Officer's decision or specified unresolved grievances. |
| Police and cybercrime authorities | Handle criminal investigations, cybercrime complaints and action against offenders under applicable law. |
| Courts | Exercise judicial powers and provide legal remedies within their jurisdiction. |
For example, suppose a social media platform suspends your account. You first need to approach the platform's Grievance Officer through its official complaint mechanism. If you disagree with the decision or the grievance remains unresolved within the applicable period, you may be eligible to appeal to GAC.
GAC is therefore an appellate mechanism, not a replacement for the platform's first-level complaint system.
Which Online Platform Grievances Can Be Appealed to GAC?
GAC handles eligible appeals concerning complaints against social media intermediaries and other intermediaries covered by the IT Rules. The issue must relate to the intermediary's obligations or matters concerning the computer resources it makes available.
The official GAC portal explains that its work includes appeals against decisions of Grievance Officers on complaints involving violations of the IT Rules and other matters relating to the intermediary's computer resources.
1. Account Suspension and Access Restrictions
A platform may suspend an account, restrict certain features or disable access to a user's profile. Users may dispute such action if they believe the intermediary has not followed its applicable obligations or has not handled their grievance properly.
GAC provides an appellate route for eligible complaints concerning these decisions. However, filing an appeal does not automatically restore an account. The committee considers the facts and applicable rules before reaching a decision.
2. Removal of Posts, Videos and Other Online Content
Users may also raise concerns when a platform removes their posts, videos, photographs or other information. A grievance may concern the intermediary's decision, its handling of a content-related complaint or its failure to follow applicable requirements.
The user must first approach the platform's Grievance Officer. If the resulting decision or qualifying inaction falls within Rule 3A, the user may seek appellate review.
3. Privacy Violations and Impersonation-Related Complaints
Online platforms may receive complaints about impersonation, privacy-invasive content, unauthorised use of personal information and other harmful material.
When a platform fails to address such a grievance in accordance with the applicable rules, the user may have grounds to approach GAC. The committee examines the intermediary's handling of the grievance rather than conducting a criminal investigation into the person responsible for the content.
For specified intimate, sexual or impersonation-related content, the IT Rules provide an expedited complaint-handling process. These special timelines are particularly important when content may cause immediate harm to an individual.
4. Grievances Not Resolved Within the Applicable Period
A user does not necessarily need a formal rejection from a platform before approaching GAC. Rule 3A also recognises specified cases in which the intermediary does not resolve a grievance within the applicable period.
This provision matters because a platform's failure to respond can leave a user without a practical resolution. After approaching the Grievance Officer and allowing the relevant prescribed period to expire, the user may be able to file an appeal under the applicable conditions.
The GAC portal specifically advises users to contact the concerned Grievance Officer first. It also explains the route for cases where the intermediary does not provide a response within 30 days. The applicable grievance category and current rules should be checked before filing.
What Are the Latest Platform Grievance Timelines Under IT Rules 2026?
The 2026 amendment to the IT Rules changed the time available to intermediaries for handling several categories of user grievances. These changes took effect on 20 February 2026.
These are platform-level timelines. They determine how quickly an intermediary must handle the original complaint; they should not be confused with the separate 30-day period for filing an eligible appeal before GAC.
| Type of grievance or action | Applicable timeline under the 2026 framework |
|---|---|
| Ordinary user grievance under Rule 3(2)(a)(i) | 7 days from receipt of the grievance |
| Specified requests for removal or disabling access to information under Rule 3(2)(a)(i) | 36 hours |
| Specified complaints involving nudity, sexual content, morphed content or impersonation under Rule 3(2)(b) | 2 hours |
| Filing an eligible appeal before GAC | Within 30 days under Rule 3A and the applicable GAC filing conditions |
| GAC's target for resolving an appeal | Endeavour to resolve it within 30 calendar days of receipt |
The 2026 amendments reduced the ordinary grievance-resolution period from 15 days to 7 days. They also reduced the specified expedited grievance period from 72 hours to 36 hours and the special content-removal period from 24 hours to 2 hours.
These periods apply to the categories specified in the rules. They should not be treated as a universal deadline for every type of online complaint.
Read MeitY's 2026 amendment FAQ for the Government's explanation of the revised timelines.
Who Can File an Appeal Before GAC?
A person who is aggrieved by a decision of the Grievance Officer of a covered intermediary may approach GAC, subject to the conditions under Rule 3A.
The appellate mechanism is intended for users and victims whose complaints concern violations of the IT Rules or other matters relating to the computer resources made available by an intermediary.
Before filing, make sure that:
- You have submitted the original complaint to the concerned platform's Grievance Officer.
- You have received a decision that you wish to challenge, or the grievance remains unresolved within the applicable period.
- Your issue falls within the scope of GAC and concerns the intermediary's grievance handling or obligations.
- You are filing within the applicable appeal period.
- You can provide the relevant complaint details, platform response and supporting documents.
GAC is not a general appeal forum against every decision made by a government department, court, regulator or other authority. Its scope is linked to decisions and qualifying inaction by an intermediary's Grievance Officer.
What Is the Time Limit for Filing a GAC Appeal?
Under Rule 3A, an eligible appeal must generally be filed within 30 days of receiving communication of the Grievance Officer's decision.
The GAC portal also explains that users may approach the committee when the intermediary does not provide a response within 30 days. In such a case, the user should retain proof of the original complaint and check the portal's current filing conditions.
Do not confuse the following two timelines:
- Platform grievance timeline: The period within which the intermediary must handle the original complaint. The applicable period depends on the type of grievance and the current IT Rules.
- GAC appeal timeline: The period within which an eligible user must submit an appeal against the decision or qualifying non-resolution.
GAC should also endeavour to resolve an appeal within 30 calendar days from receiving it. The rules use the word "endeavour", so this is a target rather than a guarantee that every appeal will be decided within exactly 30 days.
How to File an Appeal on the GAC Portal?
GAC provides an online dispute-resolution mechanism. Users can submit an eligible appeal through its official website and follow the case through the portal.
Step 1: Contact the Platform's Grievance Officer
First, submit your complaint through the concerned platform's official grievance-redressal system. Find the Grievance Officer's name and contact details on the platform's website or app.
Clearly explain the problem. For example, mention whether the platform suspended your account, removed your content, restricted a feature or failed to address a privacy-related complaint.
Keep the complaint reference number, submission date, screenshots and any acknowledgement received from the platform.
Step 2: Wait for the Applicable Grievance Period or Receive the Decision
Allow the platform the period prescribed for the relevant category of grievance. If the Grievance Officer sends a decision and you are dissatisfied with it, you may consider an appeal to GAC.
If the platform does not respond, check whether the applicable grievance period has expired and whether the case qualifies for an appeal under Rule 3A.
Step 3: Visit the Official GAC Website
Open the official GAC portal. Review the instructions and FAQs before starting the appeal process.
The portal provides an appellant login facility. It also supports user authentication through the NIC Single Sign-On platform, Parichay, and the available user ID login option.
Step 4: Register or Log In to Your Appellant Account
Follow the portal's registration or login instructions. Provide the required account information and complete the verification process.
Use an email address and mobile number that you can access. The portal uses these contact details for account access and notifications.
Step 5: Submit the Appeal Details
Complete the appeal form and provide the information requested by the portal. Explain why you disagree with the platform's decision or how the intermediary failed to resolve your grievance within the applicable period.
Depending on the case, keep the following information ready:
- Name of the online platform or intermediary.
- Details of the original complaint submitted to its Grievance Officer.
- Complaint reference number and date of submission.
- Copy of the Grievance Officer's decision, if received.
- Relevant screenshots, emails or other supporting documents.
- A clear explanation of the relief or action you are seeking.
Provide accurate information and avoid including unrelated personal or confidential details.
Step 6: Submit and Track the Appeal
After completing the required details, submit the appeal through the portal. Save the appeal reference or other acknowledgement displayed after submission.
You can track the status through the Appellant Login section on the GAC website. Use the registered account to check updates and any communication concerning your case.
For detailed instructions, read the official GAC frequently asked questions.
How Does GAC Review and Decide Appeals?
GAC follows an online dispute-resolution mechanism. The process is designed to allow users to submit appeals digitally and receive decisions through the portal.
After receiving an appeal, the committee considers the grievance, the intermediary's decision or inaction and the relevant provisions of the IT Rules.
Rule 3A also allows the committee to seek assistance from a person with the necessary qualifications, experience or expertise when it considers such assistance useful for deciding the matter.
The committee then issues its decision in accordance with the applicable framework. The outcome depends on the facts and legal requirements of the individual case.
How Many Grievance Appellate Committees Are There?
The rules allow the Central Government to establish one or more Grievance Appellate Committees. The Government initially constituted three GACs through its notification dated 27 January 2023.
Each committee consists of:
- One Chairperson.
- One ex-officio whole-time member.
- One independent whole-time member.
The Central Government appoints the Chairperson and members in accordance with Rule 3A. The rules also permit a committee to seek expert assistance while examining an appeal.
The Government may update committee appointments through subsequent notifications. For current institutional information, consult the official GAC portal and the relevant MeitY notifications and legal documents.
What Happens After GAC Issues an Order?
A GAC order is not merely an advisory for the concerned platform. Rule 3A(7) requires the intermediary to comply with the order and upload a report of compliance on its website.
The GAC portal also explains how users receive information about the decision:
- GAC uploads its order on the official portal.
- The appellant receives notification through SMS and email.
- The appellant can view the order through the Appellant Login section.
- The concerned intermediary must comply with the order.
- The intermediary must upload a compliance report on its website.
This process connects the committee's decision with the intermediary's responsibility to implement it. Users can refer to the official GAC FAQs for information about orders and compliance reports.
How Does GAC Protect Online User Rights?
Social media platforms and other online intermediaries play a major role in how people communicate, publish information and access digital services. Their decisions can affect a user's account, content, privacy and online participation.
GAC supports user rights by providing an appellate route when a platform's grievance handling does not meet the applicable requirements.
Its role contributes to several aspects of online accountability:
- Grievance review: Users can challenge eligible decisions of platform Grievance Officers.
- Accountability: Intermediaries must follow the grievance-redressal requirements under the IT Rules.
- Time-bound handling: The rules prescribe timelines for grievance resolution and provide a separate appeal mechanism.
- Digital access: Users can submit and track appeals online.
- Compliance: Intermediaries must comply with GAC orders and publish compliance reports.
MeitY has also reviewed the functioning of GAC and emphasised the importance of efficient appeal resolution and intermediary compliance. You can read the Government's January 2025 update on GAC.
What Are the Limitations of GAC?
GAC has a defined role under the IT Rules. It does not function as a general complaint authority for every online problem. Users should identify the nature of their issue before choosing the appropriate reporting channel.
1. GAC Does Not Investigate Cybercrime
GAC does not investigate hacking, phishing, online impersonation offences, cyberstalking or other criminal activities. These matters should be reported to the appropriate law-enforcement authorities.
For online crime complaints, use the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal or contact the cybercrime helpline at 1930, particularly in cases of financial cyber fraud.
You can also read our guide to the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) to understand the Government's coordination framework for cybercrime prevention and response.
2. GAC Does Not Recover Money Lost in Online Fraud
If someone loses money through a fraudulent UPI payment, investment scam, phishing link or unauthorised banking transaction, GAC is not the authority for recovering the money.
The victim should immediately contact the concerned bank or payment service provider and report financial cyber fraud through helpline 1930 or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
3. Filing an Appeal Does Not Guarantee a Favourable Decision
GAC reviews eligible appeals, but it does not automatically accept the user's allegations. The committee examines the relevant facts and applicable legal provisions before issuing an order.
Therefore, submitting an appeal does not guarantee account restoration, content removal or any other specific outcome.
4. GAC Does Not Replace Courts
The GAC mechanism does not remove a user's right to approach a court where a judicial remedy is available under applicable law. The Government's explanation of the framework also recognises that users retain their right to seek judicial remedies.
GAC provides an additional grievance-appeal mechanism within its legal scope; it does not replace the judicial system.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Grievance Appellate Committee
Q. What does GAC stand for?
Ans. GAC stands for Grievance Appellate Committee. It is a Government-established mechanism that reviews eligible appeals against decisions or qualifying inaction by the Grievance Officers of social media platforms and other covered intermediaries.
Q. Under which law was the Grievance Appellate Committee established?
Ans. GAC was introduced under Rule 3A of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. The Government inserted this provision through the IT Rules Amendment Rules, 2022, under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Q. When was GAC established in India?
Ans. The Central Government constituted three Grievance Appellate Committees through a notification dated 27 January 2023. MeitY subsequently launched the online GAC platform in February 2023.
Q. What is the official GAC website?
Ans. The official website is https://gac.gov.in/. Users can access information about GAC, read its FAQs, log in and submit eligible appeals through the portal.
Q. Can I appeal against a social media account suspension before GAC?
Ans. You may be able to appeal if the issue falls within GAC's legal scope. First, submit a complaint to the platform's Grievance Officer. If you disagree with the decision or the grievance remains unresolved within the applicable period, you can check your eligibility and file an appeal through the GAC portal.
Q. Can I directly file a complaint with GAC without contacting the platform?
Ans. No. The GAC portal instructs users to approach the concerned intermediary's Grievance Officer first. You should submit the original grievance to the platform and follow the applicable complaint-resolution process before approaching GAC.
Q. What is the time limit for filing an appeal before GAC?
Ans. Rule 3A generally provides a 30-day period for filing an appeal after receiving communication of the Grievance Officer's decision. The GAC portal also provides for cases where the intermediary does not respond within 30 days. Check the portal's current instructions and applicable rules before filing.
Q. How many days does a platform get to resolve an ordinary grievance under IT Rules 2026?
Ans. Under the 2026 amendments, an intermediary must resolve an ordinary user grievance under Rule 3(2)(a)(i) within 7 days of receiving it. Specified urgent complaints have shorter timelines, including 36 hours or 2 hours, depending on the category.
Q. How long does GAC take to decide an appeal?
Ans. Rule 3A requires GAC to deal with appeals expeditiously and endeavour to resolve them within 30 calendar days from the date of receipt. This is an endeavour requirement, not a guarantee that every appeal will be decided within that period.
Q. How many Grievance Appellate Committees are there in India?
Ans. The Central Government initially established three Grievance Appellate Committees in January 2023. The rules allow the Government to establish one or more committees.
Q. Who can file an appeal before GAC?
Ans. A person aggrieved by a decision of the Grievance Officer of a covered intermediary, or a person whose qualifying grievance remains unresolved within the applicable period, may file an appeal subject to Rule 3A and the GAC portal's filing requirements.
Q. Does GAC handle financial fraud and cybercrime complaints?
Ans. No. GAC does not handle financial fraud or cybercrime cases. Report online financial fraud through helpline 1930 or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. Criminal complaints should also be reported to the appropriate law-enforcement authorities.
Q. Are online platforms required to follow GAC orders?
Ans. Yes. Rule 3A(7) requires the concerned intermediary to comply with a GAC order and upload a report of compliance on its website.
Q. Can I track my GAC appeal online?
Ans. Yes. You can track your appeal through the Appellant Login section on the official GAC portal. The committee also uploads its order on the portal and sends notifications through SMS and email.
Q. Can I approach a court after using GAC?
Ans. GAC does not replace the courts or remove the right to seek an available judicial remedy. Whether and how a person can approach a court depends on the facts and applicable law.