Content
- Central government notifies key parts of Digital Personal Data Protection Act
- Gujarat’s Ambaji marble gets GI tag for its quality
- Iran seizes tanker in Strait of Hormuz, tensions remain high
- Govt removes 21 quality control orders on textiles, metals, polymers
- Draft IT Rules Amendments on Synthetically Generated Information (SGI)
Central government notifies key parts of Digital Personal Data Protection Act
What is the DPDP Act, 2023?
- First dedicated Indian law regulating digital personal data of citizens.
- Passed in August 2023; large parts notified in November 2025.
- Inspired by global models (GDPR), but with India-specific provisions (state exemptions, no data localisation).
- Enforces core privacy principles: consent, purpose limitation, data minimisation, storage limitation, accountability.
Why was it needed?
- Supreme Court’s Puttaswamy Judgment (2017) declared privacy a fundamental right, requiring a statutory data protection framework.
- India has 815+ million internet users, high data generation, increasing cyber threats.
- Fragmented legal regime earlier (IT Act, SPDI Rules).
- Rising digital public infrastructure (Aadhaar, UPI, ABHA, ONDC) demanded structured protections.
Relevance
- GS2 – Polity & Governance: Fundamental Right to Privacy (Puttaswamy), statutory data protection, government exemptions, RTI implications.
- GS3 – Cybersecurity: Data breaches, digital public infrastructure, cybersecurity frameworks.
- GS2 – Transparency & Accountability: Impact on RTI Act, institutional independence.
Key Concepts
Personal Data
- Any data about an identifiable individual in digital form.
- No special category/sensitive data distinction (unlike GDPR).
Data Principal
- The individual to whom the personal data belongs.
Data Fiduciary
- Entity collecting data (companies, platforms, govt bodies).
Significant Data Fiduciary (SDF)
- Large or high-risk entities; extra compliance:
- Data Protection Officer (DPO)
- Independent audits
- Risk assessments
Consent Manager
- Government-approved intermediaries enabling data principals to:
- View data use
- Withdraw consent
- Request erasure or correction
What was Notified Now?
Major Provisions Enforced from November 2025
- Most operative sections of the DPDP Act.
- DPDP Rules, 2025 operational.
- Amendment weakening RTI Act (removal of “personal information” disclosure requirement) enforced.
Provisions Delayed to November 2026
- Mandatory publishing of Data Protection Officer details.
- Full operationalisation of Consent Manager ecosystem.
Core Obligations of Data Fiduciaries
- Obtain free, informed, specific consent.
- Provide notice detailing purpose of data collection.
- Maintain reasonable security safeguards.
- Allow individuals to:
- Access their data
- Correct inaccuracies
- Seek erasure
- Nominate representatives
- Report data breaches to the Data Protection Board and users.
Rights of Data Principals (Users)
- Right to Consent and withdrawal.
- Right to Access information on how data is used.
- Right to Correction and Erasure.
- Right to Grievance Redressal.
- Right to Nominate a representative in case of death or incapacity.
Exemptions and Concerns
A. State Exemptions
- Government may process personal data “in the interest of national security, public order, or prevention/detection of offences.”
- Raises concerns of over-broad surveillance.
B. RTI Act Amendment
- Removes requirement to disclose “personal information” of public officials unless public interest outweighs privacy.
- Transparency activists argue:
- Weakens RTI
- Reduces accountability
- Expands privacy shield for bureaucrats and public servants
C. No Data Localisation
- Firms can store data globally except in restricted jurisdictions.
- Criticised by some for national security risks.
Penalties (High-Yield UPSC Points)
- DPDP Board can impose:
- Up to ₹250 crore per incident for data breaches.
- Lower penalties for failing to disclose breaches or failing to comply with user rights.
- No criminal penalties.
Institutional Architecture
- Data Protection Board of India (DPB)
- Handles breaches, complaints.
- Functions like a civil tribunal.
- Consent Managers
- Implement data portability-like access.
- Adjudication + Appeals
- Appeals lie to High Courts.
Comparison with GDPR (Exam-Favourite)
- Similarities
- Consent-focused.
- Rights to erasure, correction.
- Fiduciary accountability.
- Differences
- India has no sensitive data classification, unlike GDPR.
- India has state exemptions broader than EU.
- India’s penalties lower.
- No dedicated Data Protection Authority like EU.
Benefits
- Strengthens digital trust in India’s data economy.
- Supports startups, DPI, health-tech, fintech.
- Improves cybersecurity resilience.
- Enables user control through consent managers.
- Boosts India’s chances of data adequacy agreements globally.
Concerns & Criticisms
- Broad government exemptions could compromise privacy.
- Weakens RTI, reduces transparency.
- Board’s independence debated (appointed by government).
- No mandatory data localisation (security concerns).
- No explicit protection for non-digital personal data.
Way Forward
- Narrower “State” exemptions with judicial oversight.
- Strengthening independence of Data Protection Board.
- Privacy-by-design adoption by all major data fiduciaries.
- Periodic audits for high-risk sectors (health, fintech).
- Harmonisation with global privacy norms (GDPR).
- Better grievance redressal filters to avoid backlog.
Gujarat’s Ambaji marble gets GI tag for its quality
What Happened?
- Ambaji White Marble from Banaskantha district, Gujarat, has been granted a Geographical Indication (GI) Tag.
- GI tag registered in the name of Ambaji Marbles Quarry and Factory Association.
- Announced during the Tribal Business Conclave in New Delhi.
- Marble originates from Ambaji, a major Shaktipeeth and pilgrimage site.
Relevance
- GS1 – Culture & Heritage: Traditional craftsmanship, historical mining, temple architecture.
- GS3 – Economy: GI tags, rural livelihoods, export competitiveness, ODOP, “Vocal for Local”.
What is a GI Tag?
- A GI tag protects products with unique qualities linked to geographical origin.
- Enforced under Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
- Ensures exclusive rights, prevents unauthorised use, boosts rural and artisanal economies.
Why Ambaji Marble? Key Features
- Highly valued pure white stone.
- Known for:
- High calcium content
- High strength
- Superior shine and durability
- Strong historic lineage: mines active for 1,200–1,500 years.
- Used in iconic heritage architecture (e.g., Dilwara Jain temples of Mount Abu).
- Exported/used in temples in U.S., New Zealand, England.
Significance of the GI Tag
Economic
- Protects authentic Ambaji marble from counterfeits.
- Enhances branding, increases export potential.
- Boosts marble industry in Banaskantha.
Cultural
- Reinforces Ambaji’s identity as both spiritual and craft heritage centre.
- Connects temple architecture legacy with contemporary markets.
Administrative
- Recognition by Ministry of Commerce & Industry elevates global positioning.
- Allows formal certification and GI labelling for industry stakeholders.
Link to Tribal Regions and PM’s Visit
- PM visiting Dediapada (Narmada district) for Birsa Munda birth anniversary celebrations.
- Focus on tribal welfare + infrastructure = ₹9,700 crore projects announced.
- Ambaji marble GI announcement coincides with Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh activities and tribal economic upliftment events.
Broader Implications
- Enhances heritage tourism around Ambaji Shaktipeeth.
- Strengthens global competitiveness of Indian natural stone sector.
- Encourages preservation of traditional mining communities.
- Aligns with ‘Vocal for Local’ and One District One Product (ODOP) frameworks.
Iran seizes tanker in Strait of Hormuz, tensions remain high
What is the Strait of Hormuz?
- A narrow maritime chokepoint between Iran and Oman.
- Connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
- Width: ~39 km at narrowest point; heavily militarised.
- One of the world’s most critical energy corridors.
Relevance
- GS2 – International Relations: Iran–US tensions, JCPOA, West Asian geopolitics, India’s balancing diplomacy.
- GS3 – Economy: Impact on oil prices, India’s energy security, supply chain vulnerabilities.
- GS3 – Security: Maritime security, chokepoints, UNCLOS, Indian Navy’s role.
Why Is It Globally Important?
- Handles one-sixth of global oil trade (≈18–20 million barrels/day).
- Nearly one-third of global LNG exports pass through it (mostly from Qatar).
- Essential for Gulf exporters: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar.
- Closure can spike oil prices globally → impacts inflation, supply chains, India’s energy security.
Why Is It Constantly in News?
- Regular flashpoint due to Iran–US tensions.
- Iran often threatens to block the Strait in response to sanctions.
- US Fifth Fleet (in Bahrain) maintains security patrols.
- Frequent incidents: tanker seizures, limpet mine attacks, drone strikes.
Details of Current Incident
- Iran seized a Marshall Islands–flagged oil tanker, the Talara.
- Seized in Iranian territorial waters of the Strait of Hormuz.
- A US Navy MQ-4C Triton drone had been circling overhead for hours, tracking the situation.
- Private security analysis: small Iranian boats approached and intercepted the tanker.
- First such seizure in three years.
- Part of a broader pattern of tanker-related coercive actions.
Historical Pattern of Iranian Actions
- Iran seized two Greek tankers (2022).
- Linked to retaliation against Greek compliance with US sanctions.
- Limpet mine attacks on tankers (2019).
- Drone attack on an Israel-linked vessel (2021).
- Tension escalated after US withdrew from the Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA) in 2018.
Strategic Importance for Iran
- Strait gives Iran strategic leverage against Western powers.
- Acts as a pressure tool during sanctions, nuclear negotiations.
- Iran’s coastal geography makes it easy to deploy boats, mines, drones.
Strategic Importance for the US
- Protects freedom of navigation under UNCLOS.
- Ensures energy stability for global markets.
- Uses Fifth Fleet to patrol, deter Iran, safeguard allied shipping.
- Incident reporting often used to build international pressure on Iran.
Implications for India
Energy Security
- India imports ~60% of crude from the Gulf region.
- Any disruption increases freight rates, premium insurance costs, and global crude prices.
Diaspora Security
- Gulf hosts ~9 million Indian workers.
- Regional conflict may trigger evacuation/instability scenarios.
Maritime Strategy
- Strengthens India’s focus on:
- Sagarmala & Maritime Domain Awareness
- Indian Ocean Naval deployments
- Chabahar Port as a counterbalance to Iranian leverage
Diplomacy
- India balances ties with both Iran and US–Arab partners.
- Sensitive to JCPOA developments and sanctions regimes.
Legal Context
- Shipping route lies in international waters, but flanked by territorial waters of Iran and Oman.
- Right of Innocent Passage under UNCLOS.
- Iran imposes restrictive interpretations of passage rights, especially during tensions.
Risk Assessment
- New seizure marks escalation after relative calm (2022–2025).
- Comes amid:
- Iran–Israel clashes
- US sanctions pressure
- Red Sea instability due to Yemen conflict
- Risk of spillover into broader Gulf confrontation.
If Strait Were Blocked (Hypothetical Analysis)
- Oil prices could jump above $150–$200/barrel.
- LNG shortage hits Asia (Japan, South Korea, India).
- Strategic petroleum reserves become critical.
- Immediate naval mobilisation by US, UK, France.
- Could trigger a limited maritime conflict.
Why the Strait is a “Chokepoint” ?
- Narrow width.
- No alternative shipping route for Gulf exports.
- Heavy concentration of global energy trade.
- High susceptibility to asymmetric warfare (mines, drones, small boats).
Govt removes 21 quality control orders on textiles, metals, polymers
Why in News?
- The government withdrew 21 Quality Control Orders (QCOs) in the past week.
- Most withdrawals relate to key raw materials: textile intermediates, polymers, metals (aluminium, copper, nickel, tin, lead, zinc).
- Aim: improve raw material availability, reduce production costs, and ease MSME compliance burden.
- Triggered by recommendations of a Government Panel led by NITI Aayog Member Rajiv Gauba.
Relevance
- GS3 – Economy: Manufacturing competitiveness, MSME burden, Ease of Doing Business, non-tariff barriers.
- GS3 – Infrastructure/Industry: Supply-chain flexibility, raw material security, BIS standards.
- GS2 – Governance: Regulatory reforms, role of NITI Aayog.
What is a QCO?
- A Quality Control Order mandates that certain products must conform to BIS standards.
- QCOs make BIS certification compulsory for domestic production and imports.
- Objective: improve product quality, consumer safety, curb low-quality imports.
- Tool for non-tariff regulation under the BIS Act.
Why Were QCOs Introduced in the First Place?
- To raise domestic manufacturing standards.
- Protect consumers from substandard goods.
- Curb dumping of cheap, low-grade imports (especially from China).
- Support “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat”.
Why Withdraw Certain QCOs Now?
- Panel review found mandatory BIS certification on critical raw materials was:
- Creating supply constraints.
- Limiting import options.
- Raising input costs, particularly for MSMEs.
- Creating dependence on a small number of BIS-certified suppliers.
- Withdrawal expected to restore supply-chain stability.
- Supports manufacturing competitiveness and export flexibility.
Specific Items for Which QCOs Were Removed
Chemicals & Petrochemicals (Textile + Plastic Sector)
- PTA (Purified Terephthalic Acid)
- MEG (Mono Ethylene Glycol)
- Polyester fibre
- Polyester yarn
- Polypropylene
- Polyethylene
- PVC resin
- ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
- Polycarbonate
Metals (Ministry of Mines)
- Aluminium
- Lead
- Nickel
- Tin ingot
- Copper & refined copper
- Zinc
Why These Items Matter?
- Textile sector depends on PTA, MEG, polyester inputs — any disruption raises costs for spinners, weavers, processors.
- Plastics & polymers are foundational raw materials for packaging, consumer goods, automotive parts.
- Metals like aluminium, copper, nickel are crucial for engineering goods, electricals, infrastructure, electronics.
Benefits of Withdrawal
A. For MSMEs
- Lower compliance burden.
- Access to cheaper global inputs.
- Reduced reliance on few domestic BIS-certified suppliers.
- Improved cash flow due to lower raw material costs.
B. For Exporters
- Greater flexibility to use globally certified materials instead of BIS-only inputs.
- Enhanced competitiveness in global markets.
C. For Supply Chains
- Stabilises input supply.
- Avoids production disruptions in critical sectors.
- Mitigates risk of price spikes due to certification bottlenecks.
D. For Textiles Sector (Industry Reaction)
- SIMA says relaxations ensure uninterrupted imports of polyester inputs.
- Helps stabilise domestic yarn and fabric prices.
- Lowers cost pressure on spinners, weavers, processors.
- Encourages competitive pricing for exports.
Government’s Defence of QCO Policy
- DPIIT notes QCOs have significantly improved quality of Indian products.
- 188 QCOs issued so far, covering 773 products.
- Effective in sectors like:
- Screws, hinges
- Electrical appliances
- Water bottles
- Hardware
- Where industry faced genuine constraints, government offered:
- Extensions of implementation timelines
- Exemptions for certain raw materials
- Periodic reviews
Why This Move Matters Economically ?
- India’s manufacturing cost structure depends heavily on imported raw materials.
- Mandatory BIS certification on raw materials undermines:
- Ease of Doing Business
- Manufacturing competitiveness
- Export growth
- Withdrawal aligns with broader strategy to:
- Reduce non-tariff barriers
- Improve logistics and input-market efficiency
- Support MSME-led economic growth
Draft IT Rules Amendments on Synthetically Generated Information (SGI)
Basics
- Draft SGI Rules introduce obligations on proactive labelling, filtering, and identification of synthetically generated content.
- Aim: tackle deepfakes, mis/disinformation, and AI-generated content risks.
- Legal basis invoked: IT Act, 2000 and IT Rules, 2021.
- Key concern: whether the government can impose obligations beyond what the parent Act authorises.
Relevance
- GS2 – Polity/Fundamental Rights: Free speech, privacy, legality of delegated legislation, proportionality tests.
- GS3 – Cybersecurity/Tech: Deepfakes, misinformation regulation, AI governance.
- GS2 – Governance: Safe harbour doctrine, intermediary liability, policy overreach.
Key Provisions in the Draft SGI Rules
- Mandatory proactive labelling (“SGI”) for AI-generated content.
- Platforms/intermediaries must filter, detect, and flag synthetic content.
- Obtain user declarations about whether uploaded content is AI-generated.
- Severe penalties for failure to verify, label, or act upon synthetic content.
- Extends obligations to “significant intermediaries” and potentially to AI model providers.
Concerns on Legality and Constitutional Validity
Ultra vires the IT Act:
- IT Act’s Section 79 gives conditional safe harbour but explicitly prohibits imposing a “monitoring obligation.”
- Draft SGI Rules require exactly that: active monitoring, detection, and verification.
This exceeds the Act’s mandate and may fail the legality test.
Ambiguity in “Intermediary” definition:
- Act defines intermediaries as entities that store/host/transmit content on behalf of others.
- Generative AI platforms (ChatGPT, Perplexity, DeepSeek) are content originators.
- Therefore, they do not fit the definition and imposing intermediary obligations may be legally untenable.
Rule-making overreach:
- Government cannot expand the scope of the IT Act through subordinate legislation.
- Courts consistently invalidate rules that go beyond delegated powers (precedents: Shreya Singhal, Puttaswamy proportionality tests).
Operational and Technical Criticisms
High risk of over-blocking:
- Platforms may label uncertain content as SGI by default, leading to mass censorship.
- Genuine media (e.g., political videos) could be incorrectly blocked, especially during elections.
False positives and false negatives:
- AI detection tools have high error rates.
- Even slightly edited genuine images may be wrongly labelled or blocked.
Surveillance risks:
- Draft rules incentivise platforms to hash user images, scan content, and compare fingerprints with known datasets.
- Such scanning infringes user privacy and contradicts Section 79(2)(b) spirit (no proactive monitoring).
Impact on Freedom of Expression
- Chilling effect:
Users may self-censor due to fear of wrongful labelling or take-downs. - Risks to political speech:
Election-time deepfake concerns must be managed, but overbroad rules risk suppressing opposition or dissent. - Violation of proportionality:
Restrictions must be necessary and narrow; blanket proactive monitoring fails this test.
Industry and Civil Society Responses
- SFLC.in:
Rules unclear on whether generative AI models are intermediaries; makes compliance impossible. - IAMAI:
Burdensome obligations threaten safe-harbour provisions. - Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF):
Rules incentivise mass surveillance, content scanning, and jeopardise privacy rights. - Platforms’ likely response:
Over-blocking, delayed uploads, refusal to process content flagged as potentially synthetic.
Broader Governance Context
- India lacks a specialised AI regulation statute; SGI rules attempt to fill this vacuum.
- DPDP Act, 2023 and Rules, 2025 already impose data governance duties; SGI rules add separate burdens.
- Global trend: US, EU, and UK focus on transparency and accountability but avoid mandatory proactive monitoring (due to privacy risks).
Comprehensive Critical Assessment
Draft SGI Rules conflict with:
- Statutory limits: exceed rule-making powers under IT Act.
- Constitutional safeguards: violate privacy (Puttaswamy) and free speech (Article 19(1)(a)).
- Technical realism: place impractical burdens on platforms.
- Democratic safeguards: risk political censorship and election interference.
Needed reforms:
- Clear definitions of intermediaries vs AI model providers.
- Transparency requirements rather than proactive scanning.
- Narrowly tailored obligations tied to specific harms (election deepfakes, child safety).
- Independent regulator for AI governance instead of expanding IT Act powers.
