Draft Data Governance Framework

Why in News?

• Following the criticism of its previous draft policy, a new draft called ‘National Data Governance Framework Policy’ has been notified by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

1.About

• To transform and modernise Government’s data collection and management processes and systems through standardised guidelines, rules and norms for the collection, processing, storage, access, and use of Government data

• To enable and catalyse vibrant Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data lead research and Start-up ecosystem, by creating a large repository of India datasets

2. Objectives of Draft National Data Governance Framework Policy

• To accelerate Digital Governance

• To have standardised data management and security standards

• To have standard APIs and other tech standards for Whole Government Data management and access

• To promote transparency, accountability, and ownership in Non-personal data and Datasets access

• To build a platform that will allow Dataset requests to be received and processed

• To ensure greater citizen awareness, participation, and engagement

3.Provisions of Draft National Data Governance Framework Policy

• The old draft named the ‘India Data Accessibility and Use Policy’ which was released in February 2022 had proposed that the data collected by the Centre that has “undergone value addition” can be sold in the open market for an “appropriate price”. 

  • This provision was met with widespread criticism 

  • The new draft omits this provision

• The new draft focuses significantly on sharing non-personal data and calls for the creation of an India Datasets programme for the same.

  • The India Datasets programme consists of non-personal and anonymised datasets from Central government entities that have collected data from Indian citizens or those in India. 

  • The non-personal data collected through this programme would be accessible to startups and Indian researchers

• The draft policy proposes the establishment of the India Data Management Office (IDMO) under the Digital India Corporation of MeitY.

  • The IDMO would be responsible for developing rules, standards, and guidelines

  • IDMO will design and manage the India Datasets platform that will process requests and provide access to the non-personal and/or anonymized datasets to Indian researchers and Startups