Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation
4. Analyse the need for a Non-Personal Data Governance Framework in order to harness useful data for public good. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Tough
Reference: Live Mint
Why the question:
In December 2020, a Committee of Experts (CoE)) appointed by the Indian government to deliberate on data governance released its report on Non-Personal Data Governance Framework (NPD Framework).
Key Demand of the question:
To mention the features and also the lacunae of the NPD Framework.
Directive word:
Critically analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a balanced judgment on the topic.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
With increased digitalisation, managing the growing complexities arising from the collection, control and movement of data across borders has become a prime concern for governments.
Body:
First, give an account of various entities defined under the framework such as Non Personal Data, Data Custodians, Data Businesses, Data Trustees and Non Personal Data Authority.
Next, mention the broad features of the framework and then highlight the lacunae in the scheme such as the very definition of NPD, failure to address the fine balance between Innovation and Competitiveness of the Data Businesses, as the framework suggests to make the meta-data public, etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by giving some suggestive measures for a more robust framework based on the committee report.
