We’re tracking all the developments related to internet and technology in India during the Budget Session of the Parliament. This will include all proposed legislation, bills listed or pending, and questions (related to technology and internet ecosystem) asked in both houses each day of the Parliament. In this session, we’re watching out for the Personal Data Protection Bill and notification about the Intermediary Liability Rules amendment, both which the Minister for Electronics and IT, R.S. Prasad, has said are his key priorities. Here’s a refresher on the present state of the internet ecosystem in India:
- The Future of Internet policy in India – 2019
- A serious and imminent threat to the open Internet in India
(Scroll down for updates on legislation and questions asked in Parliament.)
Some important dates in this session:
- July 5th: Union Budget 2019-20, follow our LIVE blog
- July 4th: Economic Survey, and discussion of the Aadhaar Amendment Bill
- June 24: Aadhaar Amendment Bill passed in Parliament
Legislation
Bills listed for introduction in the Lok Sabha’s Budget Session
| Title | Key objectives | Current status |
| The Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 |
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| Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 | Listed for Introduction, Consideration, and Passing | |
| The Information Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2019 |
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Listed for Introduction, Consideration, and Passing |
| The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019 Read the 2017 version of the bill here |
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Passed in the Lok Sabha on July 23 |
| Personal Data and Information Privacy Code Bill, 2019 |
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Listed for introduction on July 26 |
| The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019 |
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Listed for passage on July 26 |
Bills introduced in Rajya Sabha, pending with Standing Committee
| Title | Key objectives | Current status |
| The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2019 |
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Questions asked in Parliament
We will be reporting all Parliament questions related to the internet and technology ecosystem. The first day that questions related to internet and technology were asked was June 21, even though the Parliament commenced on June 17; the first few days saw newly-elected MPs being sworn in.
- June 24: FASTags and Logistics DataBank to be integrated with e-way bills to reduce GST evasion
- July 10: National Consumer Helpline registered 8,373 complaints of fraud in online shopping in 3 years
- July 11: No plans of an e-regulatory body for e-commerce
- July 11: Income Tax Department’s “Project Insight” looks at data management for non-compliance of tax filing
