India’s Private Knowledge Safety Invoice, 2019 (PDP Invoice) has been within the works since December 11, 2019. After two years, on December 16, 2021, the Joint Parliamentary Committee of India introduced its much-awaited report back to the Indian Parliament on PDP Invoice.
The report recommends sure privateness guidelines that the worldwide information privateness watchdogs have been awaiting. Learn on to grasp the influence of PDP Invoice on companies and people.
The present privateness regulation in India
ITA-2000 | Privateness as a Basic Proper (Article 21) |
The correct to privateness is protected underneath the Info Know-how (IT) Act, 2000. This regulation has some categorical provisions that guard people from breaches of their very own private information by company entities. | Underneath Article 21, the Indian Structure has given the basic proper to life and private liberty (topic to sure affordable restrictions). This got here after the Supreme Courtroom’s judgement of case ‘Ok.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India 2017’. |
Underneath the sections 43A and 72A of the IT Act, 2000, the federal government has applied Delicate Private Knowledge or Info (SPDI) rule. In response to this, the delicate information of a person have to be protected, and any particular person accessing delicate information with out permission should pay for the damages.
Nevertheless, at the moment, there is no such thing as a particular authorized framework in place to take care of the problem of knowledge safety and privateness in India.

The Private Knowledge Safety Invoice, 2021
Nearly after two years, the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) lastly launched the report on the Private Knowledge Safety Invoice, 2019 which it launched on December 16, 2021. The report additionally included the brand new model of the regulation named as, “The Knowledge Safety Invoice, 2021”.
General, the invoice revolves round these key necessities:
- Knowledge Safety Authority of India.
- Rights of a person/Knowledge principal.
- Restrictions on information sharing exterior India.
- Consent earlier than processing private information.
- Notification in case of breach.
- Appointment of an information safety officer.
- Knowledge influence evaluation and monitoring of delicate information processing.
- Safety options.
Key Adjustments/Additions/Deletions to the PDP Invoice
The Joint Parliamentary Committee has made the next revisions to their report: (we’ve summarized all one after the other beneath)
Matter | Description |
Added timelines for invoice implementation. | The revised invoice has outlined the time restrict of round 24 months for implementation of all its provisions. In response to the invoice, the info safety authority should begin the work inside six months, the registration of knowledge fiduciaries have to be accomplished inside 9 months, and the authorities underneath the Act should begin their work inside 12 months from the notification date. |
Modified the identify of the invoice. | The identify of the invoice has been modified from ‘Private Knowledge Safety Invoice’ to ‘The Knowledge Safety Invoice, 2021’ or ‘The Knowledge Safety Act, 2021’. |
Mandated consent earlier than processing of kids’s private information. | The invoice states that parental or guardian’s consent is a should earlier than processing youngster’s private information, and knowledge can solely be processed after verifying age. |
Outlined person rights in case of loss of life. | The brand new model of the regulation will give individuals extra energy to regulate how their information is utilized in case of loss of life or casualty and nominate a consultant who could make selections or take actions on their behalf. |
Included information aside from private information. | Now, not simply private information however all different forms of non-personal information is included within the information breach reporting. |
Mentioned the disclosure and reporting of knowledge breach. | In case of an information breach: – Firms have 72 hours to report an information breach, they usually should present a cause if there’s a delay in reporting. – The info fiduciaries solely want to tell the Knowledge Safety Authority (DPA) concerning the hurt triggered. – Firms have to report all information breaches no matter whether or not or not any injury was executed. |
Made amendments to the processing of social media platforms. | – The time period ‘social media intermediaries’ now modified to ‘social media platforms’. – All social media platforms will likely be handled like publishers and will likely be chargeable for any content material that’s posted on their web site (intermediaries excluded) – All social media platforms have to have an workplace in India. – A media regulatory authority will likely be appointed to control the content material posted on these platforms. |
Utilized restrictions on information sharing exterior nationwide borders. | The JPC report said that every one delicate information regarding nationwide safety, financial actions, private information, and so on., should essentially be saved inside India, and urged that the info of Indians saved exterior of India have to be introduced again inside the specified interval. |
Mandated appointment of Knowledge Safety Officer. | The revised invoice mandated the appointment of Knowledge Safety Officer, and solely one who is a senior place within the firm could be appointed to carry out the duties of it. |
Set standards for {hardware} and software program utilization | The authorities will arrange a framework that will likely be used for testing {hardware} and software program earlier than approval. |
Conclusion
For the reason that European Union’s Common Knowledge Safety Regulation (GDPR) got here into drive within the yr 2018, a number of international locations around the globe both adopted go well with, modified current regulation, or launched new regulation for information safety. India has additionally made its approach in the direction of information safety with varied distinctive provisions which are impressed by GDPR. This consists of modifications to take care of a number of points that have been current within the authentic invoice. Nevertheless, some individuals have criticized these modifications as a result of they offer an excessive amount of energy to the federal government, and this might result in violations of particular person rights.
Moreover, the brand new information safety regime will impose totally different and extra compliance obligations on international firms doing enterprise in India. These compliance obligations could also be troublesome, or time consuming to fulfill and will probably trigger issues for these firms.
Firms can implement a cybersecurity answer beforehand to make sure that they absolutely meet the necessities of IT and information compliance. An all-in-one cybersecurity platform like Acronis can assist companies make it possible for their IT structure meet the newest information safety laws.
What do you consider the brand new information safety invoice, 2021? Share your views within the feedback part.

Priyanka Dadhich – a content material author, can often be discovered studying books. She likes to jot down about expertise, healthcare, journey and vogue. Priyanka loves espresso and listens to music in her free time. She spends her free time along with her household.