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India: Smart Cities: Need For A Regulatory Framework

This newsletter attempts to highlight the inadequacy of the current regulatory framework with regard to technology laws and smart cities.

Conclusion

Since there are no laws governing smart cities specifically, the government will have to amend current laws to align with the objectives of the smart city program. In time to come, it may be essential to examine the feasibility of developing a comprehensive law on cyber security, privacy, data protection and standardization of equipments. This can be done through amendments in the Act or a new set of rules that address the aforesaid challenges. The success of the foregoing programme will depend on the underlying telecommunication infrastructure which is a capital-intensive industry, requiring strong collaboration between governments and private entities. In this light, it is essential that the legislature and policymakers develop clarity in the present regulations to evoke investor confidence.