Leadership Forum Highlights DPDP Act as Game-Changer for Digital Economy
New Delhi – As India’s Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act enters its operational phase, industry leaders and policymakers gathered at a closed-door forum hosted by Data Safeguard India at the India International Centre to discuss what many are calling the country’s most critical regulatory shift in the digital era.
With an 18-month implementation window now underway, experts at the “DPDP Act – Digital Autonomy” forum warned that companies face existential threats if they fail to comply – including penalties ranging from 50 crore to 250 crore rupees.
A 250-Crore Wake-Up Call
“This is potentially the most radioactive stuff that humans have ever produced in terms of regulatory impact,” said privacy expert Pawan, drawing a dramatic comparison to Chernobyl. “Nobody in India has 250 crore rupees as loose change.”
The stakes extend beyond financial penalties. Dr. Gulshan Rai, former National Cyber Security Coordinator, emphasized that the government can shut down data centers in cases of large-scale data leakage, forcing critical assets to remain within organizations rather than being outsourced.
Made in India Solutions
Data Safeguard India unveiled its ID-PRIVACY® platform – described as “Bharat’s #1 Unified Privacy Automation solution.” Sudhir Sahu, speaking on behalf of the company, emphasized that the platform was specifically architected for India’s regulatory and operational realities, following extensive proof-of-concept work with over 50 major corporations across banking, healthcare, retail, and manufacturing sectors.
Beyond Compliance: Privacy as Profit
Dr. Amar Patnaik, who served on the Joint Parliamentary Committee for the Act, reframed the conversation entirely. “Net zero is net positive for the economy,” he said. “The same applies to privacy compliance – it will be plus-plus for businesses.”
Research shows that every dollar invested in privacy compliance returns $2.70 to companies through enhanced brand value and reduced breach costs. In 2024 alone, India saw over 2.2 billion cyber incidents, with the average data breach costing 19.5 crore rupees.
With 900 million internet users and the digital economy projected to contribute one-fifth of national income by 2030, privacy protection is now the foundation of India’s digital autonomy.
