New Delhi/IBNS/UNI: The Rajya Sabha Wednesday passed the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023, which seeks “to provide for the processing of digital personal data in a manner that recognises both the right of individuals to protect their personal data and the need to process such personal data for lawful purposes."

The Bill has already been passed by the Lok Sabha and it would now head for President's nod.

The Bill provides for setting up a Data Protection Board of India which will monitor compliance with the law and imposition of penalties against institutions found in violation of any rule.

Moving the Bill, Information Technology and Communication Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw termed the legislation as "pro-citizen, pro-privacy and very much in the spirit of government where we would like to make sure that every citizen's data is fully protected."

Talking about exemptions given to the government in the Bill, Vaishnaw said that the world's stringest privacy law General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) provides for 16 exemptions but the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023 has given only four exemptions.

"The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill is a significant step towards safeguarding the privacy and security of digital data in India. It aims to establish a robust framework for data protection, enhance user trust, and promote a thriving digital economy," said Anand Kumar Bajaj, Founder, MD & CEO, PayNearby.