Section 36: Power to call for information

Section 36 gives the Central Government the authority to demand information from specific entities. This power must be used specifically for the purposes of carrying out the Digital Personal Data Protection Act. When the Central Government makes such a request, the named entities are required to furnish the information called for. The entities subject to this requirement are the Board, any Data Fiduciary, and any intermediary. A Data Fiduciary is an entity that determines the purpose and means of processing personal data. The Board refers to the regulatory body created by the Act. Intermediaries are also explicitly included in this list, meaning they too must provide the requested information if called upon by the Central Government for the purposes of the Act.

Key points

• The Central Government may require specific entities to furnish information.
• This power can be exercised against the Board, any Data Fiduciary, or any intermediary.
• The request for information must be made strictly for the purposes of the Act.

Common misreadings

• One might assume the Central Government can demand information for any reason, but the text restricts this power to the purposes of the Act.
• It might be assumed that only Data Fiduciaries must provide information, but the text explicitly includes the Board and intermediaries as well.