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Personal Data Protection Bill introduced in Lok Sabha
Mumbai: The government on 3 August has introduced the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023, in the Lok Sabha, outlining the lawful collection, processing and protection of private data. An independent body, the Data Protection Board, will be established to examine personal data breaches and impose penalties. It also prescribed penalties up to Rs 250 crore for data breaches.
According to the proposed law, digital platforms must obtain explicit and informed consent from users to process their data. Users will have the right to withdraw this consent at any time, after which platforms must cease data processing and erase the relevant data. The Bill also permits the transfer of personal data to any country, except those the government may blacklist in the future.
The Bill, a product of over four years of work, numerous deliberations, and multiple revisions, presents a distinct framework compared to earlier draft legislation on the subject.
In a relief for the industry, the Bill allows cross-border data transfers, introduces voluntary undertaking of data breaches, and removes criminal penalties prescribed in the 2019 draft.
The Bill excludes anonymised, non-personal, and offline personal data, and does not categorise data as sensitive or critical. To reduce litigation, the Bill includes provisions for alternative dispute resolution (ADR). If enacted, the law will become a key component of India’s rapidly expanding digital economy.
Disputes with the board’s decisions can be taken to the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT). The Bill outlines the broad principles of data protection, with the specifics of legal requirements to be clarified when the government defines the rules following the Bill’s enactment.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
