• On August 3, the Centre withdrew the Personal Data Protection Bill that it had tabled in the Lok Sabha on December 11, 2019. The Bill, which had undergone intense scrutiny by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), would now be replaced by “a new bill that fits into the comprehensive legal framework,” as per the government’s statement on the withdrawal.
  • The JPC’s 542-page report has 93 recommendations, 81 amendments and suggested 97 corrections and improvements to the Bill. One of the key recommendations is widening the ambit of the Bill to cover all data instead of just personal data — thus moving it considerably away from its Puttaswamy origins.
  • The stated view of the government is that in the face of such a radical overhaul, it is better to bring in a new Bill.