A conventional all-party meeting was held yesterday, attended by 34 parties and 44 leaders, focussed to make sure that a smooth session will run until August 11.The monsoon session of Parliament began today, July 20, 2023, and is expected to last for 17 days. The government has listed 31 bills for discussion during the session, including the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023.
Parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi said many important matters were discussed during the meeting, surrounding India's current political scenario.On the first day of the session, opposing political parties intend to table an adjournment motion on the recent Manipur outbreak and other issues, calling for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence during the discussion. The government had already identified 31 legislative items, including the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023, as part of its programme for the Monsoon Session. The Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance 2023, which governs power control in Delhi, is among the significant bills tabled for the session.
What is PDP Bill?
The Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023 is a proposed law that aims to protect the personal data of individuals in India. The Bill was approved by the Union Cabinet on July 13, 2023, and is expected to be tabled in Parliament during the monsoon session.
The Bill defines personal data as "any information that relates to a natural person who is directly or indirectly identifiable," and includes information such as name, address, phone number, email address, bank account details, and medical records.
The Bill would create a Data Protection Authority (DPA) to oversee the implementation of the law. The DPA would have the power to investigate complaints of data breaches, issue directions to data fiduciaries, and impose penalties for violations of the law.
The PDP Bill has been welcomed by privacy advocates, who say it is a step in the right direction to protect the personal data of individuals in India. However, some experts have raised concerns about the potential for the law to be used to stifle innovation and economic growth.
Some of the other key bills that are expected to be discussed during the monsoon session of Parliament are :-
1)The National Medical Commission Bill, 2022
2) The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Bill, 2022
3) The Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2022
4)The National Anti-profiteering Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2022
5) The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2022
