The central government has decided to withdraw the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019

According to the new recommendations made by the Joint Committee of Parliament (JCP), the Central government has decided to withdraw the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 (PDP Bill), which is pending in the Lok Sabha.

Union Minister for Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw moved a motion to withdraw the Bill that sought to protect the digital privacy of individuals concerning their data. The House approved the Minister's motion for leave to withdraw the Bill by voice vote following his motion.

It is important to note that the Union IT Minister has issued a statement containing the reasons for the withdrawal of the Bill. The Joint Committee of the Parliament deliberated in great detail on the 2019 Bill, as per the same. Further, "12 recommendations and 81 amendments were proposed and were made towards the legal framework on the digital ecosystem." 

 A comprehensive legal framework was being worked upon considering the report of the JCP. Therefore, a new bill within this framework is proposed by withdrawing the Bill.

BACKGROUND

On December 11, 2019, Ravi Shankar Prasad, then IT Minister, introduced the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019. The Bill sought to protect the personal data of individuals and to establish a Data Protection Authority.

For examination, the Bill was referred to the Joint Committee of the Houses. The Committee submitted a report to the Lok Sabha on December 16, 2021.