Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, called on the Opposition to act responsibly and participate in the upcoming debate on the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) bill, scheduled to be presented in Parliament this week.

According to a Lok Sabha document, the long-awaited data protection bill is slated to be tabled on August 3.

Speaking to reporters, Chandrasekhar expressed his readiness for the DPDP debate, along with other significant bills, while expressing concerns over the Opposition’s apparent intent to disrupt the proceedings.

He emphasized that, as responsible Members of Parliament, they must engage in constructive discussions about these crucial bills that have the potential to positively impact the lives of millions of citizens, IANS reported from New Delhi.

“I request the Opposition to respect Parliament and debate on the bills,” Chandrasekhar asserted.

The data protection bill, designed to safeguard personal data, obtained Cabinet approval last month.

Industry experts have lauded the DPDP Bill, which has garnered substantial support from academicians, policymakers, and business players. It is expected to enable India to protect its citizens’ data with a pragmatic approach.

The bill lays down norms governing the management of personal data of Indian residents, requiring explicit consent from individuals whose data is collected and used.

Gowree Gokhale, leader of the IP, technology, media, and telecom practice at Nishith Desai Associates, hailed the bill as a much-anticipated legislation.

Acknowledging the significance of the startup ecosystem, Gokhale emphasized the need for close collaboration between the industry and the government to ensure the rules are straightforward and implementable.

“The last version of the Bill was much simpler than the earlier versions. Various industries had given feedback on several aspects, e.g., cross-border transfer, handling of children’s data, deemed consent provisions, and the powers of the board in levying penalties,” said Gokhale.

The bill also outlines practices for entities involved in collecting personal data, specifying appropriate data storage and processing measures to prevent breaches.