Jaipur, 30 October. A workshop on Digital Personal Data Protection Act‑2023 was held for senior IAS officers at HCM RIPA, Jaipur. The workshop, organised by the Department of Information Technology & Communication (DOIT&C), had the National e‑Governance Division (NeGD) of the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) as a knowledge partner. All senior IAS officers of the state were present. At the outset, Chief Secretary Shri V. Srinivas delivered the keynote address. Mrs. Shreya Guhla, Director of HCM RIPA, and Shri Ravi Kumar Surpur, Secretary of the Department of Information Technology & Communication, were also present.
Cyber‑security and data protection essential for digital governance: Chief Secretary
Chief Secretary Shri V. Srinivas said that in the 21st century, delivery of services through digital means is essential for good governance. He stressed that ensuring cyber‑security of government‑run digital platforms is vital. He added that developing citizen‑friendly data‑protection mechanisms and strengthening public trust in the privacy of personal data on government digital platforms should be the top priority. He noted that workshops like this are crucial for effective implementation of laws such as the Digital Personal Data Protection Act‑2023. They help ensure compliance with the Act and inform senior officials about legal provisions on personal data protection. He also mentioned various judicial decisions related to the topic.
Emphasis on purposeful use of citizens’ data and cyber hygiene
Chief Secretary said that, in accordance with existing legal provisions, the extensive personal data of citizens available through government digital platforms and services should be used only for targeted social security programmes. He elaborated on the need to safeguard government digital platforms and data centres from cyber attacks. He stressed that cyber hygiene on these platforms should be maintained by retaining data only for a defined period, timely deletion, periodic password changes, taking legal action in case of data‑privacy breaches, and developing an effective grievance‑redress mechanism.
CMA Shri Nitesh Kalra conducted workshop, detailed discussion on Digital Personal Data Protection Act
The workshop was conducted by CMA Shri Nitesh Kalra. Senior IAS officers were given detailed information on various provisions, relevance and objectives of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act). He highlighted the importance of secure, transparent and effective use of citizens’ digital personal data, explaining how data utilisation in line with the Act can promote good governance, better administrative services and safeguard citizens’ interests. He also discussed the need to maintain privacy and security of personal data.
Q&A session also held
After the workshop, a Q&A session was held where officials discussed various provisions of the Act and their practical implementation. Finally, the Secretary of Information Technology & Communication expressed gratitude to all guests and participants with a brief address.
Aman