Cabinet Secretary to Lead Committee for Data Protection Board Chairperson Appointment Under DPDP Act

In an unreleased version of the draft rules for the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, it is indicated that the Cabinet Secretary is expected to head a search-cum-selection committee responsible for appointing the chairperson of the forthcoming Data Protection Board (DPB). The DPB, mandated by the DPDP Act, will serve as the central authority overseeing the enforcement of data protection regulations.

As the highest-ranking civil servant and the administrative head of the government, the Cabinet Secretary holds a pivotal role and acts as the principal advisor to the Prime Minister. The proposed search-cum-selection committee, according to the draft rules, may include the Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Secretary of the Department of Legal Affairs, and two experts. Moneycontrol has obtained a copy of this draft.

Although the DPDP Act was passed in August 2023, certain clauses necessitate additional provisions to define the framework’s intricacies. The government is anticipated to release these rules for consultation shortly, with plans for official notification in January 2024.