Data protection rules Centre’s top priority, consultation soon: Ashwini Vaishnaw

The Centre is in an “advanced stage” of finalising the much awaited, and crucial, data protection rules and will soon release the subordinate legislation for public consultation, a top IT Ministry official said. The rules are crucial to operationalise the Digital Personal Data Act, which was passed by Parliament last year.

“Releasing the rules are among our top priorities. We had started working on the rules around December of last year, well before the Lok Sabha elections. Right now, the drafting of the rules is at an advanced stage and we will shortly begin consultations soon… We won’t rush through with it,” Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union IT Minister, told reporters Saturday. He did not offer a specific timeline for releasing the data protection rules.