UPSC Mains 2017 GS2 Q12 — Right to Privacy

• Brief overview of the Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) vs Union of India case and the resulting 'Three-fold test'.
• Expansion of Article 21 and its intersection with other Fundamental Rights like Articles 14 and 19.
• Impact of the judgement on the doctrine of 'Golden Triangle' and the concept of 'Natural Rights' versus 'Conferred Rights'.
• Reasonable restrictions on privacy including state security, digital surveillance, and personal data protection.

• Spending too much time on the history of the Aadhar case rather than focusing on the broad 'scope' of Fundamental Rights.
• Failing to mention the specific 'three-fold test' (legality, necessity, and proportionality) for state interference.
• Ignoring the impact on other specific issues like Section 377, decriminalization of adultery, or reproductive rights which were influenced by this judgement.
• Treating privacy as a standalone right instead of an 'intrinsic part' of the right to life and liberty.

Allocate 50 words to the introduction and the core ruling of the Puttaswamy case. Dedicate 120 words to how this expands the 'scope' through the inter-relationship of rights and the new tests of validity. Use the final 80 words to discuss implications for future legislation and concluding with the balance between privacy and state interests.