Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari recently revealed that the government earned over Rs 100 crores from the Vahan and Sarathi data sharing initiative. These databases hold vital information about registered vehicles and driving licenses. The data was shared with law enforcement, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and private companies like auto and insurance firms.
Organizations Accessing Vahan and Sarathi Data
The list of 170 organizations that accessed the data includes companies like BMW, Axis Bank, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, L&T Financial Services, and Mercedes Benz. Gadkari reported that the total revenue from this data-sharing effort reached Rs 1,11,38,79,757.
Privacy Concerns Lead to Scrapping of Bulk Data Sharing Policy
Despite the success of the Vahan and Sarathi data sharing program, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) decided to discard the bulk data sharing policy in June 2024. The decision was made due to growing concerns about privacy and the misuse of personal data.
New Approach to Vahan and Sarathi Data Sharing
Under the previous policy, commercial organizations paid Rs 3 crore annually to access the data, while educational institutions paid Rs 5 lakh for research purposes. Going forward, the government will no longer share bulk data. Instead, they will share reports based on data analysis. This new approach complies with the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019.
Government’s Stance on Data Deletion
In response to questions about whether the government would demand data deletion from private entities, Gadkari stated that no such proposal is under consideration. Furthermore, the government now focuses on regulated and secure sharing of data, ensuring privacy protection.
Future of Vahan and Sarathi Data Sharing
The government’s revised approach to Vahan and Sarathi data sharing aims to balance transparency with privacy. By sharing reports instead of bulk data, the government seeks to protect sensitive information while keeping stakeholders and citizens informed.
Source: The Economic Times
