In today’s digital era, where data breaches pose growing threats, the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act serves as a vital safeguard for sensitive information—from personal health and finances to national security. In an exclusive interaction, Sanjay Kumar Panda, Deputy Director General (DDG), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of India, explains to Nijhum Rudra of Elets News Network (ENN) how the DPDP Act balances transparency and privacy, aligning with laws like RTI and Aadhaar to build a secure digital ecosystem. Edited excerpts:
Why is the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act considered essential in today’s digital era, and what are the key challenges in implementing effective data protection mechanisms?
The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act is extremely essential for safeguarding personal data. There is a wide range of data that is considered personal and highly sensitive— such as health data, disease-related data, financial information, and even defense-related data, including information related to the Army, Navy, and Air Force. These categories of data are classified and sensitive and must be strictly protected from unauthorised individuals. That’s precisely why the DPDP Act was introduced, and it plays a critical role in protecting such data. Without it, we cannot have a comprehensive framework for data security and privacy. Now, in today’s rapidly evolving digital world, the biggest challenge in data protection is managing the complex security mechanisms needed to prevent unauthorised access. While the government is indeed taking several initiatives to improve data safety, ensuring secure and controlled access is still a major challenge.
How do cryptographic techniques, cloud computing models, and the provisions of the DPDP Act contribute to safeguarding sensitive data, especially in the context of defence and national security?
Having worked at the Army Headquarters, I am well-acquainted with the systems designed to safeguard sensitive data. Techniques such as cryptography and data distortion were employed in real-time to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and controlled access of critical information. In today’s digital landscape, computer security—especially within the realm of cloud computing—plays a vital role. Organisations increasingly rely on hybrid, private, and mixed cloud models, with private cloud infrastructure offering the highest level of security by restricting access to authorised personnel only.
This is particularly crucial for handling sensitive defencerelated data, prompting both agencies and the government to adopt stringent measures for securing open and classified data. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act further supports this effort by permitting limited access to personal data for statistical and research purposes under strict regulations, while prohibiting general public access to sensitive information. For instance, an individual’s health records or the specific diseases they suffer from should remain private. Similarly, details about nuclear activities, the deployment and strength of our armed forces, and advancements in military technology must be kept confidential—not only to protect personal privacy but also to safeguard national security from both public exposure and potential adversaries.
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Why is aligning the DPDP Act with the RTI and Aadhaar Acts important for effective data governance in India?
For security reasons, it is essential to protect all forms of data—personal, official, governmental, or private—through strong legal and technological measures. In today’s digital age, data protection is not just about privacy but also national security, economic stability, and public trust, as breaches can lead to serious consequences. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act is a crucial step in this direction, offering a legal framework that defines personal data, outlines rights and responsibilities, and enforces penalties for misuse. However, to be truly effective, the DPDP Act must align with existing laws like the Right to Information (RTI) Act and the Aadhaar Act.
While the RTI promotes transparency, the DPDP prioritises privacy, requiring a careful balance. Similarly, the Aadhaar framework must be updated to reflect principles such as consent and data minimisation. The government is working to harmonise these laws, creating an integrated, rights-based data governance framework that protects individual freedoms while supporting national growth.
One of the key strengths of the DPDP Act is its clarity and precision, which has helped minimise legal disputes and court cases, thereby enabling smoother implementation across sectors.
How does the DPDP Act support national security while ensuring individual privacy in the digital age?
The DPDP Act plays a crucial role in balancing the protection of sensitive data with the need to safeguard individual privacy. It allows for the collection and processing of personal data in a controlled manner, with strict regulations in place to prevent unauthorised access. At the same time, it ensures that data related to national security, such as defence and strategic information, remains classified and inaccessible to the public. Through provisions like data minimisation and consent, the DPDP Act ensures that only necessary and relevant information is shared while maintaining a secure framework. By aligning privacy rights with national interests, the DPDP Act facilitates the responsible use of data without compromising national security.
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