GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2630

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 24.03.2017

AMENDMENT TO THE I.T. ACT, 2000

2630. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR:

Will the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology be please to state:

(a)Whether Government is considering making amendment to the Information Technology Act, 2000 to bolster privacy and data security protections in the light of Government’s push for a Digital Economy, if so, the details thereof;

(b)Whether Government shall consider holding consultations on the proposal in line with the Pre-Legislative Consultation Policy, 2014; and

(c)If so, the details thereof, if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY)

(a),(b)and (c): The Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 Provides adequate legal framework for data protection and privacy in the digital domain. Section 43A, section 72 and section 72A of the Act provide for privacy and security of data in digital form. To address specific requirement of security arising out of Government push for digital economy, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has formulated draft rules for security of Prepaid Payment Instruments under provisions of IT Act, 2000. The draft rules have been published on MeitY website inviting public comments.

MeitY, as a policy, follow the norms prescribed in Pre Legislative Consultation Policy, 2014 for formaulation of legislation, rules etc. by uploading draft policy/legislation inviting comments from public as well as all stakeholders.

Currently there is no proposal with the Government to amend the IT Act, 2000.

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