According to the regulations, users must have an easy way to revoke their consent or complain to the Data Protection Board (DPB) about infractions
New Delhi: The Government of India has notified the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules, 2025, marking the full operationalisation of the DPDP Act, 2023. Together, the Act and Rules create a simple, citizen-focused and innovation-friendly framework for the responsible use of digital personal data.
The rules for the DPDP Act, formally operationalising India’s first digital privacy law and setting the compliance clock ticking for companies handling user data.
Alongside the regulations, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) released a separate notification announcing the DPB’s creation. The Parliament passed the DPDP Act in August 2023, and the final rules were issued after months of consultation following the draft’s publication in January 2025.
The DPDP Act establishes a comprehensive framework for protecting digital personal data, setting out the obligations of entities handling such data (Data Fiduciaries) and the rights and duties of individuals (Data Principals). It follows the SARAL design —Simple, Accessible, Rational and Actionable—using plain language and illustrations to support ease of understanding and compliance.
The Act is guided by seven core principles including consent and transparency, purpose limitation, data minimisation, accuracy, storage limitation, security safeguards, and accountability.
Social media sites, online gateways, and any other organisations handling personal data are required by the new framework to give users a detailed explanation of the information being gathered and to make it apparent how it will be used.
According to the regulations, users must have an easy way to revoke their consent or complain to the Data Protection Board (DPB) about infractions.
While consent managers, which are organisations authorised to act on behalf of users, have 12 months to register with the DPB, companies will have up to 18 months to fulfil the administrative compliance requirements.
Any business that wants to function as a consent manager must have its headquarters in India, apply to the Board, and fulfil its responsibilities consistently; otherwise, its registration might be revoked.
The DPB, which has its headquarters in New Delhi and consists of four members, including a chairperson, will operate as a fully digital adjudicatory body in accordance with the guidelines that have been notified. Its duties include enforcing the law, investigating data breaches, and levying fines.
The regulations also categorise digital intermediaries according to the type of services they offer and specify when user data must be deleted, unless there are laws that mandate its retention.
Within 72 hours of learning about a data breach, data fiduciaries must notify the DPB and the impacted user.
“In sum, the one-year deadline for Consent Managers effectively pre-positions the consent infrastructure for DPDP compliance. By the 18‑month enforcement date, a network of certified, neutral consent-service providers will be ready to handle opt-in/out mechanics, easing the shift to the new regime,” said Vinay Butani, Partner, Economic Laws Practice.
Phased and Practical Implementation
The DPDP Rules provide an 18-month phased compliance timeline, allowing organisations time for smooth transition. They also require Data Fiduciaries to issue standalone, clear and simple consent notices that transparently explain the specific purpose for which personal data is being collected and used. Consent Managers—entities that help individuals manage their permissions—must be Indian companies.
Clear Protocols for Personal Data Breach Notification
In the event of a personal data breach, Data Fiduciaries must promptly inform affected individuals in plain language, explaining the nature and possible consequences of the breach, the steps taken to address it and contact details for assistance.
Safeguards for Children and Persons with Disabilities
To ensure stronger protection, Data Fiduciaries must obtain verifiable consent before processing the personal data of children, with limited exemptions for essential purposes such as healthcare, education and real-time safety. For persons with disabilities who cannot make legal decisions even with support, consent must come from a lawful guardian verified under applicable laws.
Transparency and Accountability Measures
Data Fiduciaries must display clear contact information—such as that of a designated officer or Data Protection Officer—to help individuals raise queries about personal data processing. Significant Data Fiduciaries have enhanced obligations including independent audits, impact assessments and stronger due diligence for deployed technologies. They must also comply with government-specified restrictions on certain categories of data, including localisation where required.
Strengthening Rights of Data Principals
The DPDP framework reinforces the rights of individuals to access, correct, update or erase their personal data and to nominate another person to exercise these rights on their behalf. Data Fiduciaries must respond to all such requests within a maximum of 90 days.
Digital-First Data Protection Board
The Data Protection Board will function as a fully digital institution, enabling citizens to file and track complaints online through a dedicated platform and mobile app, promoting transparency, efficiency and ease of living. Appeals against its decisions will lie with the Appellate Tribunal, TDSAT.
The Rules seek to strike a careful balance between protecting citizens’ privacy and promoting innovation and growth. India’s data governance model encourages economic development while safeguarding citizen welfare, and provides a facilitative compliance regime for startups and smaller enterprises so that innovation can continue to thrive alongside strong data protection standards.
With simplified rules, adequate transition time and a technology-neutral approach, the DPDP Act and Rules aim to strengthen privacy, enhance trust and support responsible innovation. Together, they help position India’s digital economy as secure, resilient and globally competitive.
With inputs from Agencies