The Personal Data Protection Bill, which proposed to regulate the use of individual’s data by the government and private companies, was withdrawn by the Centre from Lok Sabha .

The Bill proposed to provide for the protection of the personal data of individuals and establish a Data Protection Authority for the same. It sought to put restrictions on the use of personal data without the explicit consent of citizens.

The Centre said that the Bill, withdrawn by IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, will soon be replaced by a comprehensive legal framework.

“Electronics and IT Ministry withdraws Personal Data Protection Bill,2021 from Parliament. This will soon be replaced by a comprehensive framework of global standard laws including digital privacy laws for contemporary and future challenges and catalyze Prime Minister’s vision of India Techade,” said Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

The Bill was withdrawn after the Joint Committee of Parliament (JCP) examining the legislation suggested several amendments to it.

Chandrasekhar said that the JCP’s report on the Bill had identified many issues that were relevant but “beyond the scope” of modern digital privacy law.

“Privacy is a fundamental right of Indian citizens and a trillion-dollar digital economy requires global standard laws cyber laws,” the Union minister said in a tweet.

Opposition leaders had vehemently opposed certain provisions of the Bill including giving unbridled powers to the state and its agencies for use of personal data.

The Bill was introduced on December 11, 2019. It was later referred to the joint parliamentary panel for examination and the report of the committee was presented to the Lok Sabha on December 16, 2021.

The Bill intended to provide protection of digital privacy to individuals relating to their personal data, specify the flow and usage of data, and create a relationship of trust between persons and entities processing the data.