Parliament Question: Data related Obligations

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3520 ANSWERED ON MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2026/ SHRAVANA 19, 1948 (SAKA) DATA RELATED OBLIGATIONS QUESTION

3520. Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske:

Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne:

Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde:

Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar:

Smt. Bharti Pardhi:

Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS

be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has undertaken an assessment of the interaction between the data-related obligations proposed under the draft Digital Competition Bill, including those relating to consent, restrictions on intermixing of data and data portability and the obligations under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023;

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether any coordination mechanism, guidance or framework has emerged from the consultations held between the Competition Commission of India and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on the interface between competition law and the data protection framework and if so, the details and dates thereof; and

(d) whether the Government proposes to issue clarifications to ensure that enterprises are not subjected to duplicative or inconsistent compliance obligations under the two frameworks and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGWAYS.

(SHRI HARSH MALHOTRA) ***** 1(a) & (b): No, Sir. At present, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has commissioned a Market Study on “Qualitative and Quantitative thresholds for Big Tech Companies and Core Digital Services” with respect to the Draft Digital Competition Bill (DCB) submitted by the Committee on Digital Competition Law (CDCL). The above market study is expected to provide an evidence-based foundation, which will enable consideration of all relevant aspects. A final view on the Draft DCB, would factor in comments received during stakeholders’ consultation and inter-ministerial consultation to ensure regulatory coherence.

(c): The deliberations between Competition Commission of India (CCI) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on issues relating to the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and its interface with competition law, have led to mutual understanding of adopting a consultative regulatory approach to address emerging issues and support India’s vision of a secure, competitive and digitally empowered economy.

(d): At present, no Digital Competition Law is in force, hence such a situation does not arise. ***** 2