The government is poised to release draft rules under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP) within the next month, according to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Speaking on Monday, Vaishnaw stated that the government has been focusing on the digital implementation of the Act, ensuring that the rules are tailored accordingly.
Draft Rules Expected for Public Consultation Soon
“The framework is ready, and the draft rules for consultation are expected to be released within a month,” Vaishnaw informed reporters. He added that the final draft of the rules was reviewed last week and is anticipated to be available for public consultation shortly. The rules will be articulated in simple language to ensure clarity and accessibility.
These rules, once drafted, will undergo a consultation process before being presented to Parliament for approval. The DPDP Act, which was passed by Parliament on August 9, 2023, was introduced nearly six years after the Supreme Court recognized the ‘Right to Privacy’ as a fundamental right.
The Act aims to prevent the misuse of personal data by online platforms and imposes several compliance requirements on the collection and processing of personal data. It also includes provisions for penalties of up to ₹250 crore in cases of data breaches. Notably, the Act grants the government the authority to exempt state agencies from certain provisions of the law.
The law applies to the processing of digital personal data within India, encompassing data collected in digital form as well as non-digitized data that is later digitized. The Act broadly defines ‘personal data’ as any information that can identify an individual or relate to such identification.
The upcoming draft rules will be crucial in defining how the DPDP Act will be enforced, impacting businesses, online platforms, and data processors across the country.
