Modi Government Sold Driving License Data for Rs 65 Crores

Modi Government Sold Driving License Data for Rs 65 Crores 

According to a report by Trak.in, during a session of the Lok Sabha, it was revealed by the Minister of Road Transport and Highway Nitin Gadkari that the driving license and vehicle registration data of many users was sold for Rs 65 crores. 

In line with the Government’s plan to use data to generate revenue, Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has revealed that the government is selling vehicle registration and driving licence data of Indians and earning money from it.

Replying to a query presented by Congress MP Husain Dalwa, who asked if the government has intended to sell Vahan and Sarathi database in bulk (and) if so, the estimated value for the sale, Gadkari stated that it has provided 87 private and 32 government entities access to Vahan and Sarathi database which has yielded a revenue of Rs 65 crore so far.

The policy states that sharing data in a controlled manner can support the transport and transport industry. “It is recognized that sharing data for other purposes, in a controlled manner, can support the transport and automobile industry. The sharing of data will also help in service improvements and wider benefits to citizens and the government. In addition, it will also benefit the country’s economy. The prime focus is on delivering simpler, better and safer services to the citizens…,” it further reads.

The Vahan and Sarathi ministry maintains the Centralized National Registry through the National Informatics Centre and it contains approximately 25 crore vehicle registration records and 15 crore driving licence records.

For the same, the Road Transport and Highways Ministry has also created “Bulk Data Sharing Policy & Procedure”. Organizations seeking bulk data can obtain it at a price of Rs 3 crore Gadkari said. Educations institutes seeking the data can obtain it for “research purposes and internal use only” for a price of Rs 5 lakh.

Private driving license data has been sold to around 87 private companies in India and 32 government firms. The data was sold under the Bulk Data Sharing Policy and Procedure, which states that users’ data can be sold to anyone if that entity is ready to pay money for it.

Private companies are required to pay Rs 3 crores for the financial year 2019-20. Educational institutions, on the other hand, can get hold of it for just Rs 5 Lakhs but they also need to shell out Rs 3 Crores if they need to use it for commercial purposes. 

What makes the situation a big point of concern is whether it was sold with or without the consent of the users.

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