IT Minister Pramod Mahajan told parliament that he expects 35% of the country’s 1 billion population to have internet access in about 3 years and added that this would cover more people than have access in the US.
At present, India has less than 1 million internet connections, but each connection services about 4 users.
The Bill, if passed in its present form, will enable the acceptance of electronic records and digital signatures in government offices and agencies.
More controversially, the Bill also gives the police power to search any public place and arrest without warrant anyone suspected of having committed a cybercrime.
The next stage for the Bill is the upper house, although it is expected that there will be little or no resistance.