iWorld
Why did government retract Data Protection Bill
Mumbai: Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has withdrawn the Data Protection Bill from Lok Sabha on 3 August 2022. The centre will review the policy and come up with a ‘comprehensive legal framework’ for regulating online data privacy. The new regulation on data protection will help the overall internet ecosystem, safeguard against cybercrime, and secure non-personal data.
The Data Protection Bill was first introduced on 11 December 2019. The bill was referred to the Joint Committee of the Houses for examination on 16 December 2021 & later, the committee presented the report in the Lok Sabha. The joint parliamentary committee raised concerns and provided 93 recommendations that explain why the government cannot invade one’s privacy. The government will introduce the new regulation during the winter session of the parliament this year.
Why did political parties oppose the bill?
In 2019, the opposition parties such as Congress and Trinamool Congress vehemently protested against this bill as it violated the fundamental rights of the citizens. The opposition believed that the bill provided power to the government to access the personal data of individuals, and it lacked transparency and was opaque.
It is imperative to provide adequate protection to people on their privacy rights. Currently, India is the fastest growing data-generation nation in the world with over 700 million Internet users and more than 400 million smartphone users.
Which data can the government have access to?
Data is usually generated through four sources such as personal data, bank accounts data, medical records and employment data. Other data is generated from web searches and visits to any web portals. The data helps to understand and identify people’s choices, preferences and histories.
It is also generated through a cache that comes from social media posts, tweets, phone calls, emails and videos. It is also generated through coordinates from the real-time location. Stacks of data are also collected from one’s spending patterns when an individual purchases online, via modes of payment used, and transactions made through payment gateways.
It is that personal data many individuals would like to keep private and the government exercising control on accessing it- is a serious matter of concern. There needs to be a mechanism and policy in place to process such data without breaching people’s trust and protecting its safety & security.
iWorld
NH7 Weekender Pune adds powerhouse comedy lineup
IconiQ White edition from March 13–15 features 10 plus stand-ups alongside music headliners
MUMBAI: Pune’s happiest music fest just doubled down on laughs because when the beats drop and the punchlines land, even the crowd’s too busy giggling to notice the bass. The Iconiq White NH7 Weekender returns to Mahalakshmi Lawns, Pune from March 13 to 15, 2026, and this time the festival isn’t just serving earworms, it’s delivering full-blown comedy chaos between sets. Organisers have stacked a formidable stand-up lineup to keep the energy roaring when artists like Talwiinder, Prateek Kuhad, Raftaar x KR$NA, KING, Nucleya & Friends and Indian Ocean take breaks.
Top billing goes to 10 comedians festivalgoers won’t want to miss:
- Aaditya Kulshreshth (Kullu) – relatable middle-class & college nostalgia king
- Rohan Joshi – sharp pop-culture wit from the AIB days
- Urooj Ashfaq – deadpan delivery and offbeat brilliance
- Madhur Virli – quirky personal storytelling that hits home
- Sonali Thakker – fresh takes on relationships and everyday awkwardness
- Varun Thakur – high-energy “Vicky Malhotra” persona
- Rahul Subramanian – clean observational humour with viral crowd work
- Shreeja Chaturvedi – clever, dry wit and smart punchlines
- Sahil Shah – geek-culture humour and electric stage presence
- Fatima Ayesha – confident, sharp observations on life and culture
Additional acts include Anish Goregaonkar, Daahab Chishti, Rajat Sood, Supriya Joshi, Sumaira Shaikh, Urjita Wani, Kaustubh Agarwal’s Akal Ke Ghode, and Kumar Varun’s interactive comedy-quiz format Kvizzing.
The comedy stage joins a music lineup that promises sing-along anthems and high-octane sets, turning the three-day festival into a full-spectrum entertainment escape where the laughs hit as hard as the drops.
In a country where festivals already feel like organised chaos, NH7 Pune is making sure the only thing louder than the speakers is the roar from the comedy tent.
