On December 24, 2023, the President of India announced that they had signed the Telecommunications Bill 2023 (the Act) into law on the same date. In particular, the Act aims to amend and consolidate the law relating to the development, expansion, and operation of telecommunication services and telecommunication networks, assignment of spectrum, and connected matters.

More specifically, the Act provides, among other things, the authority to the Central Government of India to notify standards and conformity assessment measures with respect to encryption and data processing in telecommunication and cybersecurity for telecommunication services and telecommunication networks. Further, the Act would require any 'authorized entity' providing telecommunication services, as may be notified by the Central Government, to identify the person to whom it provides such services through any verifiable biometric-based identification as may be prescribed.

The Act will come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint and different dates may be appointed for different provisions of the Act. Any reference in any such provision to the commencement of the Act must be construed as a reference to the commencement of that provision.

You can read the Presidential assent here and track the Act's history here.