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Using an Aadhaar-based system to verify children’s age for using online services and to gather their parents’ consent, and introducing a two-stage notification measure for tech companies to intimate users about data breaches, are among the key proposals in the upcoming data protection rules, has learnt.
The Union Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) is set to kickstart consultations on data protection rules as it looks to operationalise the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, which was notified over four months ago in August.
It has scheduled a closed-door consultation with industry stakeholders on the proposed rules on December 19.
At least 25 rules have to be formulated to operationalise the Act notified in August and the government has also been empowered to enact rules for any provision that it deems fit.
One of them is developing a consent framework to verify a child’s age before they can use an online service. The Act states that companies will need to gather “verifiable parental consent” for letting anyone under 18 years access their platform. This has been a major sticking point for the industry since the Act itself does not suggest ways in which platforms can perform age-gating.
Govt & Politics
PM Modi, Oman’s Sultan adopt vision document, discuss Gaza (Page no. 7)
(GS Paper 2, International Relation)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik adopted a vision document to strengthen bilateral ties and also pushed for sealing a comprehensive economic partnership agreement. They also discussed the situation arising out of the Hamas-Israel war.
The two sides also announced the third tranche of Oman-India investment fund worth USD 300 million (around Rs 2,500 crore) that would be used for channelising investment into the fastest growing sectors of the Indian economy.
The fund was started as a 50:50 joint venture between the SBI and the Oman investment authority, with the first tranche of USD 100 million followed by USD 200 million.
Describing the talks between Modi and the visiting leader as “comprehensive and constructive”, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said India and Oman also signed agreements on cooperation in the field of information technology, combating financial crimes, culture, and the establishment of a Hindi chair of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations in Oman.
Express Network
Kerala reports new COVID variant JN 1 centre steps up vigil (Page no. 10)
(GS Paper 2, Health)
A case of JN.1, a sub-variant of COVID-19 that’s currently spreading in the US and China, has been found in Kerala as part of the ongoing routine surveillance by INSACOG (Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium).
According to Dr Rajiv Bahl, DG, ICMR, the case was detected in a RT-PCR positive sample from Karakulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on December 8.
The sample tested RT-PCR positive on November 18. The patient had mild symptoms of Influenza Like Illness (ILI) and has since recovered.
The Union Health Ministry is in touch with the state health authorities and monitoring the situation at points of entry.
In fact, a mock drill is being held at all health facilities across various states through district collectors as part of a regular exercise to assess their public health and hospital preparedness measures. The drive will be completed by December 18.
Economy
AP Gujarat among achievers in Logistics performance index (Page no. 15)
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, and Gujarat are among the 13 states and Union Territories that have again been categorised as "achievers" in the logistics index chart 2023, according to a report released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry.
The index is an indicator of the efficiency of logistical services necessary for promoting exports and economic growth.
India, UK look to resolve visa, EV issues under proposed FTA (Page no. 15)
(GS Paper 2, International Relation)
India and the UK are trying to resolve issues concerning visas for domestic professionals and duty concessions on British electric vehicles (EVs) as part of the proposed free trade agreement, and talks on them are at the last leg.
An Indian team is in the UK to iron out differences over these issues, besides some others in the services sector and customs duty cut on British whiskey.
The two countries are looking at tariff rate quota (TRQ) type arrangements for EVs. Under TRQ, a fixed number of goods are allowed at concessional duty, and beyond that, normal duty applies.
The UK has sought customs duty concessions on exports of electric vehicles to India under the proposed free trade agreement.
India is seeking a liberal visa regime for its services companies as those firms need to send skilled professionals to the UK. So, visa regime should be facilitative for them.