India, Oct. 21 -- Private entities made nearly 17 million queries to India's national vehicle databases between January 2024 and September 2026, in the months before the Centre discontinued data sharing with such firms on October 1. This was revealed in response to a Right To Information (RTI) application filed by digital rights advocacy Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF).

The National Informatics Centre (NIC), which runs the systems, disclosed that 25,314 credentials were issued to private entities during the period, allowing them to access data from VAHAN, SARATHI and related transport databases. The reply also recorded 338 credentials for private entities against 62 for government bodies, though it did not explain the difference betwee...