MUMBAI: In the age of internet and with everyone talking about privacy on the medium, the Indian government has taken a step forward towards the privacy bill.

The Government is in the process of drafting a legislation that seeks to provide protection to individuals against breach of their privacy through unlawful means, which, at present, is at consultation stage. Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s office Dr. Jitendra Singh stated this in a written reply to a question raised at Rajya Sabha on 13 August.

The Government is expected to examine aspects like the restriction of the legislation-if it is limited to Indian citizens.

Since 2010, the former government has also been trying to draft a privacy bill, to protect individuals against data misuse by government or private agencies.

In 2011, the very first draft on this was released, which was extended to the Right to Privacy to citizens of India. After which there was the 2014 Bill that recognised the Right to Privacy as a part of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution and extends to the whole of India. The culprit held under draft Bill, 2014 will have to pay from Rs 10 lakh to upto Rs 2 crore.