Why is it in the news?
→ India observed International Data Privacy Day on 28 January reaffirming commitment to responsible data practices.
→ Focus placed on the DPDP Act, 2023 and India’s expanding digital footprint.
Category
Polity
Important Points
- International Data Privacy Day designated in 2006 by the Council of Europe.
- Commemorates Convention 108 (1981), first legally binding international treaty on data protection.
- Convention modernised in 2018 with mandatory breach reporting and stronger accountability.
- India has not signed or ratified Convention 108.
- India has 101.7 crore broadband users and data cost ~USD 0.10/GB.
- Digital Public Infrastructure includes Aadhaar, UPI, MyGov and eSanjeevani (44+ crore consultations).
- India recorded 1.91 million cybercrime complaints in 2024.
- DPDP Act, 2023 enacted after Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (2017) recognised privacy as Article 21 right.
- Data Protection Board of India created to oversee compliance and breaches.
- DPDP Rules, 2025 operationalise citizen-centric data protection regime.
- IT Act, 2000 provides a base for cyber law and established CERT-In.
- Cyber mechanisms include I4C, NCRP with Helpline 1930, CFMC, Sahyog Platform, Cyber Swachhta Kendra.