Source: PIB
Relevance (UPSC Syllabus):
GS Paper II (Governance); GS Paper III (Cybersecurity, Digital Economy); Prelims (Acts and Institutions)
Key Terms
For Prelims:
International Data Privacy Day; Convention 108; Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023; DPDP Rules, 2025; Data Protection Board of India; CERT-In; I4C; Cyber Swachhta Kendra; Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI); Aadhaar; UPI; MyGov; eSanjeevani
For Mains:
Data privacy as a democratic entitlement; privacy-by-design in digital governance; balancing privacy, innovation, and public interest; digital sovereignty and data governance; institutional accountability in cyberspace; citizen-centric digital governance
Article Outline
- Why in News
- Foundational Importance of Data Privacy
- India’s Growing Digital Ecosystem and the Privacy Imperative
- National Preparedness on Data Privacy and Security
- Rights and Safeguards under the DPDP Act, 2023
- Complementary National Cybersecurity Measures
- Conclusion
- UPSC PYQs
- CARE MCQs
Why in News
- Data Privacy Day is observed globally on 28 January each year.
- Also referred to as Data Protection Day.
- Instituted by the Council of Europe in 2006.
- Marks the adoption of Convention 108, the first legally binding international treaty on data protection.
- The observance aims to raise awareness about safeguarding personal data in an increasingly digital world.
Key Takeaways
- Data Privacy Day underlines the shared responsibility of governments, digital platforms, and citizens in creating a trusted digital ecosystem.
- India ranks as the world’s third-largest digitalised economy, with digital platforms deeply integrated into everyday life.
- The DPDP Act, 2023 and DPDP Rules, 2025 establish a citizen-focused framework that balances privacy, innovation, and public interest.
- The Union Budget 2025–26 allocated ₹782 crore for cybersecurity to protect digital public infrastructure.
Why Data Privacy is Foundational
- Protects personal data across large-scale digital platforms.
- Builds public confidence in government-led digital services.
- Enables ethical, secure, and responsible digital adoption.
- Prevents misuse of data, reduces cyber risks, and aids fraud detection.
- Strengthens transparency, accountability, and institutional oversight.
- Reinforces the collective responsibility of the State, institutions, and citizens.
India’s Expanding Digital Footprint and the Privacy Imperative
1. Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): Scale and Impact
India’s DPI operates at population scale and underpins its digital transformation:
- Aadhaar: A trusted digital identity ecosystem
- UPI: A global benchmark in real-time digital payments
- Paperless governance platforms: Faster and more efficient service delivery
- MyGov: Over 6 crore users enabling participatory governance
- eSanjeevani: More than 44 crore telemedicine consultations improving healthcare access
The scale and inclusiveness of these platforms heighten the need for robust privacy protections.
2. Connectivity, Affordability, and Inclusion
- 101.7 crore broadband subscribers (as of September 2025)
- Average user spends around 1,000 minutes online
- Mobile data costs about $0.10 per GB (2025), among the lowest globally
Digital access now shapes identity verification, payments, healthcare, education, grievance redressal, and citizen engagement, making India one of the most digitally connected societies worldwide.
3. Strengthening Privacy and Cybersecurity
Rapid digitisation has increased:
- The volume of personal data
- Sensitivity of information
- Exposure to cyber threats
Key risks include data misuse, privacy breaches, and cyber fraud. In response, the government has strengthened data protection frameworks and enhanced cybersecurity funding, including a ₹782 crore allocation in 2025–26.
National Readiness on Data Privacy and Security
1. Information Technology Act, 2000
India’s foundational cyberspace legislation:
- Grants legal recognition to electronic records and digital signatures
- Facilitates e-governance and digital commerce
- Establishes CERT-In as the national incident response agency
- Provides adjudicatory and appellate mechanisms for cyber disputes
Key provisions include authentication, e-governance, adjudication, content blocking for national security, and cyber incident management.
2. IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021
- Issued under the IT Act
- Impose due diligence obligations on intermediaries
- Mandate time-bound grievance redressal
- Apply to telecom providers, ISPs, online marketplaces, search engines, and social media platforms
3. Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023
- Enacted on 11 August 2023
- Covers digital personal data and digitised offline data
- Seeks to balance privacy protection with innovation and economic growth
- Follows the SARAL framework: Simple, Accessible, Rational, and Actionable
Data Protection Board of India
- Monitors compliance
- Investigates data breaches
- Issues corrective directions
- Ensures accountability and enforcement
Rights and Safeguards under the DPDP Act, 2023
Rights of Data Principals (Citizens)
- Right to grant or deny consent
- Right to be informed about data usage
- Right to access personal data
- Right to correct, update, and erase personal data
- Right to nominate another individual
- Mandatory response timelines
- Mandatory breach notifications with guidance
- Clear grievance redress mechanisms
Special Safeguards
- Children: Verifiable parental consent, except for essential services
- Persons with disabilities: Consent through lawful guardians where applicable
Key Definitions
- Data Fiduciary: Entity determining the purpose and means of data processing
- Data Principal: Individual to whom the personal data relates
4. Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025
- Notified on 13 November 2025
- Operationalise the DPDP Act
- Strengthen enforceable citizen rights
- Enhance organisational accountability
- Prevent unauthorised data use
- Maintain balance between privacy, innovation, and responsible data processing
Additional National Measures for Data Security
1. Incident Prevention and Response
- CERT-In designated as the nodal cybersecurity agency under the IT Act
- Mandated to secure India’s cyberspace and digital infrastructure
2. National Coordination Mechanisms
- Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) (2018), under MHA
- Focus on cybercrimes, especially against women and children
- Supports early warning systems, analytics, reporting, and capacity building
3. Citizen-Focused Platforms
- National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal
- Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting & Management System
- Helpline 1930
4. Real-Time Cyber Interventions
- Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC), launched in September 2024
- Enables real-time data sharing, blocking of compromised accounts, SIMs, and devices
- Coordinates banks, telecom providers, and law enforcement agencies
5. Digital Infrastructure Protection
- Sahyog platform for takedown of unlawful online content
- Suspect Registry for identifying mule accounts
- Indigenous cybersecurity tools developed by C-DAC
6. Cyber Forensics and Investigation
- National Cyber Forensic Laboratories
- Assist States and UTs in evidence preservation, breach analysis, and prosecution
7. Data-Driven Analytics
- Samanvaya Platform (September 2024)
- National MIS for cybercrime data
- Facilitates inter-State coordination, trend analysis, and geo-mapping
8. Capacity Building
- CyTrain platform
- Cyber Commando Programme (2024)
- ISEA Programme
- CSPAI initiative by CERT-In (2024) for AI security professionals
9. Public Awareness Initiatives
- Cyber Swachhta Kendra (CSK)
- Provides free malware removal tools and best practices
- Issues regular advisories to organisations and users
Conclusion
Data Privacy Day reinforces that trust is the cornerstone of India’s digital transformation. Through comprehensive legislation, dedicated institutions, increased investments, and sustained awareness efforts, India is ensuring that its rapid digital expansion remains secure, ethical, inclusive, and citizen-centric. The DPDP framework, strengthened cybersecurity architecture, and nationwide capacity-building initiatives together position India as a resilient and future-ready digital society.