Statement by India under Agenda Item 3, Interactive dialogue with Special Rapporteur on the Right to Privacy, at the 55th Session of the Human Rights Council (26 February -5 April 2024), delivered by Ms Jagpreet Kaur, Under Secretary, MEA on 13 March 2024

Mr. Vice-President, 

1.  We thank the Special Rapporteur for her Report on legal safeguards for personal data protection and privacy in the digital age.

2.  India is committed to inclusive use of digital technologies for achieving our goal of inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development, leading to digital transformation of India.

3.  We believe that the design, development, governance and use of digital technologies should be shaped by democratic values and respect for universal human rights. We are committed to development and use of digital and other emerging technologies that yield tangible benefits for society, developed through a multi-stakeholder approach that is adaptive, dynamic, and aligns with universal values, including respect for freedom of expression and privacy.

4.  With the aim to establish a comprehensive legal framework to govern digital personal data protection The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, was enacted in India in 2023. This law provides for the processing of digital personal data in a manner that recognises both the right of individuals to protect their personal data and the need to process such personal data for lawful purposes.

Mr. Vice-President, 

5.  Privacy is a core element of an individual’s life. India fully recognizes and respects the right of privacy, as an essential element of the right to life, guaranteed as a fundamental right under our constitution.

I thank you.