India has taken a significant step toward strengthening digital rights with the notification of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules, 2025. Together with the DPDP Act, 2023, these rules create a citizen-first, innovation-friendly privacy framework designed to make data protection simple, transparent, and effective. The approach follows the SARAL philosophy—Simple, Accessible, Rational, and Actionable—ensuring clarity for both individuals and organizations.
A People-Centric Framework
At the heart of the DPDP Act are seven core principles: consent, transparency, purpose limitation, data minimisation, accuracy, storage limitation, security safeguards, and accountability. These principles form the backbone of a system designed to protect digital personal data while supporting India’s rapidly growing digital economy.
Inclusive Rule-Making
The Ministry of Electronics and IT conducted one of the most extensive public consultations across multiple cities, inviting feedback from startups, MSMEs, industry bodies, civil society, and government agencies before finalizing the rules. This participatory approach ensures the framework reflects India’s diverse digital ecosystem.
Phased and Practical Compliance
Recognising the operational challenges faced by organisations, the rules introduce an 18-month phased implementation schedule. Businesses now have more apparent timelines to adapt their systems, redesign consent mechanisms, and upgrade their security practices. Consent notices must be standalone and straightforward, clearly explaining why data is being collected and how it will be used.
Tougher Breach Notification Norms
In the event of a data breach, organisations must promptly notify affected individuals in plain language, detailing what happened, potential risks, and steps taken for mitigation. They must also inform the Data Protection Board with detailed information, including a root cause analysis and the remedial measures taken.
Protection for Children and Persons with Disabilities
The rules set stringent conditions for processing children’s data, requiring verifiable parental consent. Limited exemptions apply only to essential services, such as healthcare and education. For individuals with disabilities who are unable to make their own legal decisions, a verified lawful guardian must provide consent on their behalf.
Stronger Transparency and Accountability
Data Fiduciaries must provide easily accessible contact information for queries and complaints. Significant Data Fiduciaries—typically large platforms or high-risk processors—face enhanced responsibilities, including mandatory audits, impact assessments, and restrictions on cross-border data transfers where required by the government.
Empowering Citizens with Digital Rights
Individuals can now access, correct, update, or erase their data and even nominate someone to act on their behalf. Organisations must respond within 90 days. The newly created Data Protection Board, with a fully digital workflow, will enable citizens to file and track complaints online, bringing speed and transparency to the resolution process.
Building Trust in the Digital Economy
With its simplified rules, technology-neutral design, and balanced compliance expectations, the DPDP framework aims to boost trust while supporting innovation. For India’s digital economy—one of the world’s fastest-growing—these rules mark a decisive step toward a secure, resilient, and globally competitive future.
