Agenda:
Safeguarding Digital and Personal Dataspace under Article 21 (Right to Privacy) with Special Emphasis on Provisions of the Income Tax Bill 2025
India is one of the fastest growing countries in the world, and as it moves rapidly into the digital age, new opportunities arise—but so do challenges. We live in an era where data is collected and processed at an unprecedented scale, putting the right to privacy, guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, at risk. Amidst this, the Income Tax Bill 2025 aims to modernize taxation, but its provisions could reshape how authorities collect and share sensitive information, raising concerns over privacy and government surveillance. While tax transparency is crucial, it must not come at the cost of individual rights. Existing laws like the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP) and the IT Act 2000 provide key safeguards, and the new bill must complement, not contradict, them.
As parliamentarians, you must strike a balance—ensuring security without enabling overreach. Your discussion will explore the bill’s impact on India’s digital rights and whether governance and privacy can truly coexist in the evolving legal landscape of the world’s largest democracy.
Rhythm Agrawal
Speaker, Lok Sabha
I, Rhythm Agrawal, am honored to serve as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. I look forward to embracing this esteemed responsibility with dedication and integrity. True to my name, "Rhythm," I am also a passionate musician and an independent artist. I thrive on learning unconventional yet fascinating skills and am known for bringing light-hearted banter even to the most serious moments. I believe I am at my best when using my voice to engage in thought-provoking political discourse, challenge the status quo through meaningful debate and question the unquestionable.
This year, the Lok Sabha turns its focus to an issue that affects every citizen—how our digital and personal data is being used, especially under the new Income Tax Bill, 2025. The Bill may make taxes easier, but it also gives the government more access to our private information. And that’s where we need to pause and think. As lawmakers, it’s on us to make sure that the state’s power doesn’t come at the cost of personal freedom. We need to seriously look at when it’s okay for the government to step into someone’s private data—and when it’s not. Our job is to draw a line that protects the rights of every Indian, while still giving the government the tools it needs to catch wrongdoers and enforce the law.