Facts checked 29 September 2026 for the CAT 2026 cycle
WAT Topic: "India now requires AI-generated content to be labelled on platforms. Is that enough to stop deepfakes?" - technology category, medium difficulty. Consider 2 perspectives for a balanced essay.
Open with the IT Rules amendment notified on 10 February 2026 and in force from 20 February 2026. State: labelling is necessary but not sufficient.
Para 1: What the rules require (a definition of synthetically generated information, prominent labels, faster takedown)
Para 2: Limits: detection, verification, satire and creative uses, cross-border content
Para 3: What else is needed: media literacy, fast response, accountability for platforms
Labelling is a start. Pair it with fast takedown, platform accountability and public awareness.
The IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2026 were notified on 10 February 2026 and came into force on 20 February 2026
The takedown deadline for unlawful content was cut from 36 hours to 3 hours, and for non-consensual intimate imagery from 24 hours to 2 hours (MediaNama, February 2026)
In April 2026 MeitY proposed that AI labels stay visible for the full duration of video content (draft amendment)
Not knowing that India already has labelling rules
Extreme positions (all AI bad or all AI good)
Ignoring enforcement limits
Show that you know India, and not only the EU, now has labelling rules. Cite the February 2026 amendment and say what it leaves open.
Rhetoric (4th Century BC)
Insight: Persuasion requires ethos (credibility), pathos (emotion), and logos (logic) working together.
How to apply: Structure your WAT with logical arguments (logos), establish credibility through data/examples (ethos), and connect to human impact (pathos). IIM evaluators look for all three.
Made to Stick (2007)
Insight: Ideas that stick are Simple, Unexpected, Concrete, Credible, Emotional, and tell Stories (SUCCESs).
How to apply: Open with an unexpected fact or angle. Use concrete examples, not abstractions. Ground arguments in credible data. Make it memorable.
The Sense of Style (2014)
Insight: Good writing is about showing the reader something in the world, not performing your knowledge.
How to apply: Don't write to impress—write to illuminate. Avoid jargon and pompous language. Show you understand the issue, don't just list points.
Politics and the English Language (1946)
Insight: Clear thinking leads to clear writing. Never use a long word where a short one will do.
How to apply: Prefer active voice. Cut unnecessary words. If you can cut a word, cut it. Clarity beats complexity in 200-word essays.
Values original thinking and nuanced positions over conventional wisdom.
Tip: IIMA loves contrarian but well-reasoned takes. Don't be afraid to challenge the premise of the topic itself.
Practical, business-oriented evaluation. Values structured thinking.
Tip: IIMB appreciates when you connect topics to business/management implications. Always include "so what" for managers.
Rigorous analytical approach. Values data and economic reasoning.
Tip: IIMC loves numbers. Include at least one relevant statistic. Show you understand economic trade-offs.
Balanced evaluation of content and expression.
Tip: IIML values clear structure. Use explicit transitions and signposting.
Ethics-focused, values human-centric perspectives.
Tip: XLRI's Jesuit heritage means they value ethical dimensions. Always consider the human/social impact angle.
There's no "right" stance. What matters is taking a clear position and defending it well. Show that you know India, and not only the EU, now has labelling rules. Cite the February 2026 amendment and say what it leaves open.
Nobody outside the institute can say. IIMs set the essay topic on the day. This topic is tied to an issue that was current in September 2026, and the statistics on this page carry their source and date, so use it for practice.
Open with the IT Rules amendment notified on 10 February 2026 and in force from 20 February 2026. State: labelling is necessary but not sufficient. Your body should cover: Para 1: What the rules require (a definition of synthetically generated information, prominent labels, faster takedown); Para 2: Limits: detection, verification, satire and creative uses, cross-border content; Para 3: What else is needed: media literacy, fast response, accountability for platforms.
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