tl;dr
The Budget Session of Parliament concluded on April 4, 2025, when both Houses of Parliament adjourned sine die. The session commenced on January 21, 2025 with a recess between February 13, 2025 and March 10, 2025 to enable Department related Standing Committees to examine and report on the Demands for Grants relating to various Ministries/Departments. Discussions on the floor of the parliament spanned several issues, including those relevant to digital rights and freedoms.
Background
The Budget Session of Parliament commenced on January 21, 2025, and concluded on April 4, 2025, after 26 sittings in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha over 26 days. During this Session a total of 11 Bills (10 in Lok Sabha and 1 in Rajya Sabha) were introduced. 16 Bills were passed by Lok Sabha and 14 Bills were passed/returned by Rajya Sabha with the total number of Bills passed by both Houses of Parliament being 16.
The session’s productivity was quite high, with the Lok Sabha operating at 111% and the Rajya Sabha at 112% of their scheduled time. Question Hour functioned for 78% and 83% of its scheduled time in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha respectively. However, only eleven Bills were passed in the first year of 18th Lok Sabha, marking it as the lowest output since 1999. This highlights the continuing challenge of legislative backlogs with 28 Bills remaining pending before the Parliament.
Quick Overview: Union Budget
The Union Budget for 2025-26 reflects a significant decline in overall allocations for Department of Telecommunications and Ministry of Home Affairs as compared to 2024-25 and meagre increment to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting while Ministry of Electronics and Technology saw 18.64% increased allocations partly due to the prioritization of India AI mission.
The total budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (“MeitY”) in the Union Budget 2025-26 stood at ₹26,026.25 crore, reflecting an 18.64% increase over the Budget Estimates of 2024-25. Even as the MeitY’s estimated expenditure increased, the total Budget of Telecom and IT sector in general came down by 0.65% points from last year (2.41% in FY25 to 1.88% in FY26). With the increased utilisation of technology in governance, ballooning of emerging technologies and digitisation being ubiquitous in every walk of life demands more than allotted budget for it to be equitable and accessible to every stratum of society. With AI taking center stage in public discourse and its inevitable growth in the foreseeable future, the India AI Mission aims to bring artificial intelligence (“AI”) to critical sectors of the economy. It has been allocated ₹2000 crore, a whopping 1056% increase from the revised estimates in the 2024-25 budget, where ₹173 crore was allotted. This considerable increase comes in the background of a. Technical Secretariat being proposed and other regulatory frameworks being framed to govern AI in the country which is positioned to have a profound socio-technical impact.
The Data Protection Board (“DPB”) which is the key regulatory authority under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, responsible for enforcing data protection regulations, again saw a mere allocation of Rs. 5 cr. with Rs. 50 lakhs forming the capital outlay which includes fixed assets such as digital portal, and the rest of Rs. 4.5 crores towards revenue expenditure.
A sum of ₹574.8 crore is allocated for Census Survey and Statistics/Registrar General of India this year compared to ₹1,309.46 crore in the July 2024 Budget, giving a clear indication that the decadal exercise will be further delayed. Further, the continued underfunding of digital literacy programs like PMGDISHA remains a glaring issue, as increased investments in technology without inclusive accessibility measures could widen the digital divide. Additionally, the historical underutilization of funds in telecom and cybersecurity sectors raises concerns about whether increased allocations will result in effective implementation. You can read more about it here.
Media Council for better implementation
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology recommended the constitution of a media council for various forms of media, including print, broadcasting, and digital, to ensure better implementation of laws governing these services. This came as part of the Standing Committee’s report on the demand for grants for 2025-26, presented before the Lok Sabha. In this report, the Committee noted that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (“MIB”) has been actively integrating AI into the media sector through initiatives such as SAMVAD, an AI-powered dashboard that monitors social media trends, and AI news anchors on DD Kisan, which deliver agricultural news 24/7 in multiple languages. The Committee commended these efforts and further encouraged expanding AI adoption in content creation, misinformation monitoring, and administrative efficiency. While the push for integrating AI aims to improve efficiency and tackle misinformation, it raises several concerns. AI systems operate on a large scale, monitoring real-time trends across social media, news, and broadcasting with minimal human oversight, increasing the risk of over-censorship and privacy violations. SAMVAD, with its ability to track social media trends, sentiment, and feedback, could potentially be misused for surveillance. Read more about it here.
Dilution of right to information
The amendment to the Right to Information (“RTI”) Act, 2005, through Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, has sparked significant concerns regarding its potential impact on citizens' ability to access crucial information. By exempting all personal information from disclosure, the amendment removes the carefully balanced provisions of the RTI Act that allowed personal data to be withheld only if it had no public interest or would result in an unwarranted invasion of privacy. This blanket exemption threatens to deny access to information essential for public accountability, such as names of willful defaulters, contractors involved in government projects, and lists of individuals benefiting from public schemes.
In response to these concerns, a delegation of civil society members, including IFF, and other activists, academics, researchers, and journalists, met with Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and MPs from several political parties on March 25. The delegation, which included prominent figures such as Nikhil Dey, Anjali Bhardwaj, Apar Gupta, and Jayati Ghosh, raised alarms over the chilling effect the DPDP Act could have on journalists, activists, unions, and political parties, limiting their ability to access and use vital information. Several MPs, including Digvijay Singh (INC), Manoj Kumar Jha (RJD), Mahua Moitra (TMC), and others, endorsed a letter to Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, urging the repeal of the amendments made to the RTI Act, which they argued would severely hinder transparency and accountability.
Digital rights in the parliament
Throughout every Session of the Parliament, we track significant answers to parliamentary questions placed in both Houses by various members. Starred and unstarred questions submitted by MPs are a great tool for holding the incumbent government accountable. Answered by the Union Ministers, the responses become an invaluable source of authentic and legitimate information.
AI in India
AI tools in Agriculture: Lok Sabha (“LS”) MP Mahua Moitra raised questions to the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare about the deployment of AI in agriculture, including the outcomes of any such implementation. The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare summarised the initiatives taken by the government including the AI powered chatbot ‘Kisan e-Mitra’ and the national pest surveillance system which utilizes AI and machine learning to detect pest infestation in crop issues, enabling timely intervention for healthier crops. However, concerns remain about the security of sensitive data processed by these applications, highlighting the urgent need for robust security frameworks and strict usage guidelines to mitigate risks.
Job displacement due to AI: Rajya Sabha (“RS”) MP AA Rahim inquired on impact studies conducted by the government to assess the effects of AI on job displacement across various sectors as well as the steps taken by Government to prevent or mitigate job losses in
the private sector caused by the increasing adoption of AI. Further, he asked for information regarding any proposed regulatory framework to monitor and regulate the use of AI to ensure that it does not worsen the unemployment crisis. Minister of State for Labour and Employment Sushri Shobha Karandlaje responded that deployment of AI may result in job creation in various streams like data science and curation, adding that, so far 8.65 Lakh candidates have enrolled/trained in various courses including 3.20 lakh candidates in AI/big data analytics technologies.
AI in the Pharmaceutical Sector: RS MPs GC Chandrashekhar and Ashokrao Shankarrao Chavan inquired on any proposals taken by the government on the deployment of AI in the pharmaceutical industry. The Minister of State for the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Anupriya Patel, responded that the Department of Pharmaceuticals has taken steps to promote research and development in the sector through the Scheme for Promotion of Research and Innovation in the Pharma Medtech sector. Further, the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, with the assistance of the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, has undertaken a pilot project to evaluate the feasibility of a block-chain-based track-and-trace system for Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana.
AI and health: LS MP Radheshyam Rathiya asked about the deployment of AI in the health sector and whether any comprehensive assessment has been conducted to understand the fields where AI can be deployed effectively. The Minister of State for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, responded that the the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is leveraging AI in public health services across India. As part of this, the Ministry of Health has designated AIIMS Delhi, PGIMER Chandigarh and AIIMS Rishikesh as ‘Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence’ with an aim to promote development and use of AI based solutions in Health. He added that this includes ‘Media Disease Surveillance’, which is an AI-driven tool that has been supporting event-based surveillance for infectious diseases since April 2022. This tool scans digital news sources across the country and shares relevant information with districts for early action and response. According to the Minister, since April 2022, Media Disease Surveillance has published over 4,500 event alerts, contributing to the timely prevention and mitigation of disease outbreaks, thereby reducing mortality and morbidity. However, such deployment without any safeguards raises concerns about transparency and accountability, specifically relating to information regarding the personal health data of individuals. The opacity of AI algorithms makes decisions harder to challenge or appeal, while the vast data collection required for trend analysis could lead to misuse or a chilling effect on free speech. Though AI might seem more objective if implemented by private or academic partnerships, its widespread automation and the potential to systematically shape narratives without transparency make it a potentially greater threat to information freedom.
Drones for Surveillance
RS MP Sanjeev Arora asked the Minister of Civil Aviation on the total number of commercial drones registered in the country as of September 2024, categorized based on the purpose. In addition, he inquired about the specific measures that exist to promote the use of drones in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and infrastructure and other pertinent details. Drones equipped with surveillance technology (such as cameras and sensors) can potentially capture footage of individuals, residential areas, or restricted zones without consent, leading to concerns about unauthorized surveillance. Read our thread summarizing the response here.
PM Kisan and technological inclusivity
LS MP Arun Bharti asked the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare about the PM-Kisan scheme's use of technology to streamline beneficiary identification, ensure transparency in fund disbursal, and integrate with other welfare schemes. The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ramnath Thakur informed that the PM-Kisan scheme transfers ₹6,000 annually to land-holding farmers via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) using Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts, ensuring direct & timely payments. The scheme relies on Aadhaar, Income Tax, and PFMS cross-checks for eligibility, with physical verification for accuracy. However, this tech-driven process risks excluding farmers without Aadhaar, bank accounts, or formal land records, particularly those in remote areas. While manual checks help, they might not catch all issues, and rural areas may still face gaps in verification. Read our thread summarising the response here.
On E-Shram Portal
RS MP Neeraj Dangi asked the Minister of Labour and Employment about the Aadhaar verification system in the e-Shram portal, and whether workers have been deprived of welfare benefits due to technical glitches. The Minister of Labour and Employment launched e-Shram portal on August 26, 2021 for creation of a comprehensive National Database of Unorganised Workers seeded with Aadhaar. The e-Shram portal is meant to register and support the unorganised workers by providing them a Universal Account Number (UAN) on a self-declaration basis. Similarly, RS MP Dharmasthala Veerendra Heggade inquired on the actions taken by the government to ensure implementation of various labour codes at e- commerce platforms and whether the government proposes to frame suitable social security schemes for gig workers, platform workers as well as workers in the unorganized sector on matters relating to life, disability cover, accident insurance, health and maternity benefits and old age protection. The Minister for Labour and Employment merely pointed out that the government, in its budget announcement had proposed to arrange for their identity cards and registration on the e-Shram portal and provide health care under AB-PMJAY health scheme without expanding on the actions taken to improve implementation of labour safeguards. Read our thread summarising the response here. To know more, read our explainer on the E-Shram portal here.
Fake News?
RS MP Abdul Wahab questioned the Minister of Information and Broadcasting about the Government's measures to combat fake news and disinformation, and asked whether any action has been taken against TV channels for spreading it. The Minister of State of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Dr. L Murugan, pointed out that newspapers have to adhere to “Norms of Journalistic Conduct” brought out by Press Council of India (“PCI”) which, inter alia, restrains publication of fake/ defamatory/ misleading news. The Council holds inquiry into alleged violations of Norms, and may warn, admonish or censure the newspaper, editors, journalists, etc. as the case may be. Read our thread summarising the response here.
Ethical Considerations in Neurotechnology
RS MP Dr. D Ravi Kumar asked the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare about the steps taken by the government to recognize and protect neurorights, referencing Chile’s constitutional amendment, which ensures that technological developments respect individuals’ physical and mental integrity. In addition, he inquired whether the Government is considering Colorado's recent law to protect individuals’ neurological privacy and California's deliberations on a similar instrument and the actions taken/being taken by the Government to collaborate with inter-governmental organizations working on the human rights dimension of neurotechnologies to ensure the protection of citizens’ rights. The Minister of State for Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav stated that India currently lacks specific laws on neuro rights but cited existing frameworks like the IT Act, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, and the Mental Healthcare Act for data protection and privacy. This raises concerns as neurotechnologies evolve, the absence of legal safeguards presents issues about mental privacy and cognitive surveillance. Without clear protections, individuals may be vulnerable to intrusive data collection and manipulation. Read our thread summarising the response here.
One Too Many Fact-Check Units
LS MP G Kumar Naik asked for details of instances where fact-checking led to social media content takedowns. Further, they inquired whether an independent, non-partisan fact-checking body is being considered by the Government. The Minister of State for Ministry of Electronics and Information Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw, provided details about the queries received and resolved during the last three years and the current year by the Fact Check Unit (“FCU”) set up under the PIB in November. He also highlighted a four-step model for verification of the reported news/content by the FCU. This includes: 1. Find: The PIB Fact Check Unit takes suo-moto cognizance on fact checking as well as receives complaints on its website or WhatsApp Hotline, 2. Assess: The information is then segregated after ascertaining whether it falls within the ambit of the FCU, 3. Create: The FCU utilizes then creates awareness on social media platforms; and 4. Target: FCU posts the correct information on its social media handles. The lack of procedural safeguards in the PIB's FCU raises concerns about transparency and accountability as it functions with suo-motu cognizance and content dissemination without clear oversight. In September 2024, the Bombay High Court ruling held the establishment of FCUs under the IT (Amendment) Rules, 2023, as unconstitutional. This raises questions about the government’s disregard for judicial rulings. Read our thread summarising the response here.
On Internet Shutdowns
LS MPs Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, Madhavaneni Raghunandan Rao, Jugal Kishore, Jagdambika Pal and Anurag Sharma asked about the the number and the details of internet shutdown orders issued under the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017 between January 2023 and January 2025, and inquired whether any economic and/or social impact assessment of internet shutdowns in the country has been conducted.
In response, the Ministry of Communications acknowledged that no study has been conducted on the effectiveness of shutdowns, despite the Supreme Court’s recognition of their constitutional implications on rights like free speech and online professions. The recently notified Telecommunications (Temporary Suspension of Services) Rules, 2024, mandate that shutdown orders include specific reasons, geographical areas, and durations while maintaining provisions for the publication of these orders. However, the rules do not specify the exact method or mechanism of publication. The Review Committee’s power to set aside suspension orders under the draft rules has also been retained in the notified rules. (Read more about the recently notified Suspension Rules, 2024, here).
A similar question was asked by LS MP Sukhdeo Bhagat who pointed out that the country has recorded 84 internet shutdowns, the highest among democratic nations, with 21 occurring in Manipur alone in 2024. He inquired on the reasons for not undertaking comprehensive evaluations of the consequences of internet shutdowns by the Government given the significant implications for access to information, economic activities and digital rights and any plans regarding the implementation of an oversight mechanism to prevent arbitrary suspensions in the future. The Minister of State for Ministry of Communications was evasive in their response, answering that the “contribution of internet for the well-being of citizens has to be balanced with the misuse of social media platforms by anti-social elements which may require temporary internet shutdowns”.
Conclusion
The Budget Session ended with heated protests and discussions. On the digital rights front, while this session saw increased engagement on the issues of digitalisation of PDS and AI governance, the government’s responses often revealed gaps between ambitious digital policies and their implementation. The handling of critical matters like PM Kisan and disinformation suggests a concerning trend toward reduced transparency in digital governance. Perhaps most telling is the government’s acknowledgement that no studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of internet shutdowns, despite their frequent use and significant impact on digital rights.