Parliament Diary

The Joint Committee Report on the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 was tabled in Parliament today. The Bill establishes a framework to protect people’s personal data from entities which collect and use the data. The Bill places certain obligations on data fiduciaries or those who collect and use data, gives certain rights to the individuals or data principals to protect their personal data, and establishes a Data Protection Authority to regulate and oversee data fiduciaries. 

Some of the recommendations of the Committee include: 

• Establishing a single administration and regulatory body for personal and non-personal data
• Setting up a statutory media regulatory authority on the lines of the Press Council of India for regulation of content on social media platforms
• Adherence with the tests of necessity, proportionality and legitimate state action as laid down in the Puttaswamy judgement in reference to exempting government agencies from the provisions of the Act (through an amendment)

The report contains dissent notes from 8 Members in the Committee.

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha did not take up their listed business due to disruptions. Lok Sabha functioned for less than 20 minutes and Rajya Sabha for less than 15 minutes. 

Before adjourning, the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was introduced in Lok Sabha. The Bill seeks to decriminalise certain offences and facilitate fast-tracking of research, patent application process, and transfer of research results while utilising the biological resources available in India.  

The Committee on Home Affairs submitted an Action Taken Report on management of COVID-19 on Wednesday. The report notes that the government has set up a Committee to review the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The Committee had earlier noted that although the provision of NDMA helped in timely interventions and response during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is not meant for handling the pandemic/epidemic, if it happens in future.