01
13 Nov 2025
Rules notifiedThe DPDP Rules, 2025 were published; designated initial provisions began to operate.
THE VIRAL IDEAS / PRIVACY ADVISORY
DPDP Compliance Services in India.
From uncertainty to documented readiness.
Assess, implement and review your obligations under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and the DPDP Rules, 2025—with clear scopes, accountable owners and usable processes.
- Understand where you stand through a documented gap assessment
- Close gaps with a prioritised roadmap and hands-on implementation
- Prepare practical workflows for consent, rights requests and breaches
Advisory and implementation support, not a self-service login platform
TVI / DPDPCOMPLIANCE FRAMEWORK
YOUR READINESS ROADMAP
One clear programme.
Defined outcomes.
01Assess your current exposure
02Map data and processing activities
03Implement practical safeguards
04Document operational evidence
05Review and improve
Built around your real systems, teams and data flows.
Evidence-led approach
THE REGULATORY TIMELINE
Three dates. One preparation window.
Implementation is being phased in. Use the time before the main deadlines to map processes, assign owners and test operational safeguards.
02
13 Nov 2026
Consent Manager provisionsRegistration and related Consent Manager obligations are scheduled to apply.
03
13 May 2027
Core compliance dutiesMost notice, consent, security, breach, erasure and Data Principal rights duties are scheduled to apply.
Phased commencement: Government of India Gazette notifications, 13 November 2025. Act commencement ↗ · DPDP Rules ↗
WHY THIS MATTERS
Compliance is more than a policy.
If your organisation processes digital personal data involving people in India, the law may apply—even when the business operates internationally. Customers, staff, patients, students and leads all create real operational considerations.
DPDP readiness involves clear notices, valid consent where required, meaningful withdrawal, security safeguards, Data Principal rights handling, breach response and purpose-linked erasure.
We help translate those obligations into concrete workflows, records and responsibilities that your teams can actually maintain.
Know your exposure before you invest.
Start with your real data flows. Identify what matters, what is missing and which fixes reduce the greatest risk.
Discuss a gap assessmentUp to ₹250 crore
Under the Act's penalty schedule, failure to take reasonable security safeguards can attract a penalty of up to ₹250 crore, assessed by the Board.
A finite runway
Core operating duties are scheduled for May 2027. Implementation, process changes and contracts benefit from early planning.
Day-to-day accountability
Grievance resolution, detailed breach reporting (including the prescribed 72-hour timeframe) and some 48-hour pre-erasure notices require planned processes, where applicable.
OUR SPECIALIST SERVICES
DPDP support, built around you.
Start with an assessment, move through implementation and review your controls with an audit. Each engagement has a defined scope and documented deliverables.
01 / SERVICE
DPDP Compliance Consulting
Privacy advisory that turns the DPDP Act and Rules into decisions for your product, legal, IT and business teams. From notice design and purpose limitation to processor agreements and governance.
BEST FOR
Enquire about this service Leadership teams seeking a long-term compliance partner.
02 / SERVICE
DPDP Gap Assessment
A structured review of how you collect, use, share, store and delete personal data, mapped to applicable DPDP obligations. Receive a risk-ranked gap register and a remediation roadmap.
BEST FOR
Enquire about this service Businesses beginning their DPDP journey or unsure what is missing.
03 / SERVICE
DPDP Compliance Audit
Evidence-based testing of consent records, notices, rights-request logs, security safeguards, breach procedures, vendor contracts and retention practices.
BEST FOR
Enquire about this service Organisations with controls in place that need independent verification.
04 / SERVICE
DPDP Compliance Implementation
Hands-on execution: data mapping, notices and consent flows, rights workflows, incident response, retention schedules, vendor clauses and operational handover.
BEST FOR
Enquire about this service Teams ready to close gaps with accountable owners and usable controls.
Data Protection Officer Services
Programme coordination, grievance handling and Board liaison support. An India-based DPO is mandatory for Significant Data Fiduciaries; other Data Fiduciaries still need a published contact person.
Let's discussDPDP Compliance Documentation
Tailored privacy notices, consent text, internal policies, processor contracts, retention schedules, breach playbooks and evidence records—not generic copied templates.
Let's discussCHOOSE THE RIGHT START
Gap assessment vs audit.
A gap assessment and a compliance audit answer different questions. Here is how to decide.
| Decision point | DPDP gap assessment | DPDP compliance audit |
|---|---|---|
| When to choose | Your controls are informal or not yet in place | Controls exist and you want evidence they work |
| Core question | What is missing under the Act and Rules? | Do our controls work as designed? |
| Method | Interviews, walkthroughs and document review | Sample-testing records, logs, contracts and workflows |
| Deliverable | Gap register and prioritised remediation roadmap | Audit report with evidence and corrective actions |
| Next step | Implementation | Remediation and re-testing |
OUR PROCESS
From assessment to evidence.
A structured five-stage engagement, with something tangible handed over at every stage. Timing is scoped to your systems and readiness.
Assess
Confirm applicability and your role as Data Fiduciary, Data Processor or both; review systems and current processes.
Applicability memo + gap register
Map
Inventory personal data, purposes, systems, vendors, recipients and retention across web, app, CRM, HR and support.
Data inventory + flow map
Remediate
Prioritise and implement notices, consent flows, rights workflows, safeguards, incident response and contracts.
Roadmap + updated controls
Operate
Define how teams will process requests, maintain records, handle incidents and follow retention and erasure rules.
Documented operating workflows
Review
Test the controls periodically, refresh evidence and track MeitY and Board updates.
Review report + evidence pack
OPERATIONAL READINESS
Six connected workstreams.
A working compliance programme needs clear processes, responsible owners and evidence. We help your business define and implement the systems and workflows behind the policy.
Consent Management
Design purpose-specific notices and consent records, including straightforward withdrawal paths and evidence of when consent was given.
Data Inventory & Mapping
Understand what data you hold, why, where it lives, who receives it and how long it should be retained.
Data Principal Rights
Define intake, verification, routing, responses and grievance handling with an auditable history.
Breach & Incident Response
Establish ownership, escalation, notification templates and a playbook for time-sensitive breach reporting.
Retention & Erasure
Build retention schedules, purpose-linked erasure triggers and pre-erasure notice processes where applicable.
Vendor Privacy Management
Review processors, contract clauses, third-party access and the vendor data flows your business remains responsible for.
Need compliance tooling? We can advise on workflow requirements and implementation options. This page is a consultation service; it does not expose a software dashboard, customer login or live compliance management portal.
WHAT YOU RECEIVE
Work products, not just recommendations.
Final deliverables depend on your scope. A full engagement may include these practical documents, controls and evidence.
01Applicability & roles memo
Applicability, fiduciary/processor role and potential Significant Data Fiduciary exposure
02Data inventory & flow map
Personal data categories, purposes, systems, recipients, transfers and retention
03Gap register & roadmap
Findings mapped to obligations, ranked by risk and effort, with owners and dates
04Notices & consent flows
Clear notices, consent wording and an accessible withdrawal mechanism
05Rights & grievance procedure
Request intake, verification, response templates and time tracking
06Breach response playbook
Responsibilities, impact assessment and notification procedures
07Retention & erasure schedule
Purpose-based retention, deletion triggers and relevant notification processes
08Vendor controls
Processor clauses, contracts and third-party risk assessments
09Evidence pack / audit report
Organised proof of controls and a remediation register for review
INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC READINESS
One Act. Different realities.
The same law creates different questions for healthcare, a D2C brand, a SaaS product or an employer. Our starting point is the data flow and risk profile of your sector.
01
SaaS
Customer data, sub-processors, telemetry and processor agreements
02
Ecommerce
Checkout consent, payment and order data, retention and erasure
03
D2C Brands
WhatsApp/SMS opt-ins, CDPs, fulfilment and logistics partners
04
Startups
Lean, phased controls that address the biggest risks first
05
SMEs
Practical processes without an in-house privacy function
06
Healthcare
Patient records, secondary-purpose consent and sensitive data flows
07
Edtech
Learners under 18, parental consent and limits on tracking
08
Fintech
KYC, credit data, incident scenarios and sector requirements
09
HR & Employers
Employee/candidate data and background-verification vendors
10
IT Companies
Client data access, delivery teams and processor obligations
11
Marketing Agencies
Lead records, list provenance, campaign consent and client data
12
Real Estate
Buyer enquiries, channel partners, visits and post-sale retention
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
Key obligations at a glance.
Selected statutory duties that shape a typical DPDP readiness programme. Their applicability depends on the nature of your processing and relevant exemptions.
| Obligation | Legal reference | What we help you establish |
|---|---|---|
| Notice | Section 5 / Rule 3 | Plain-language, itemised notices at the appropriate time |
| Consent & withdrawal | Section 6 | Consent records and an easy way to withdraw consent |
| Reasonable security | Section 8(5) / Rule 6 | Safeguards, access controls and documented reviews |
| Breach intimation | Section 8(6) / Rule 7 | Incident plans and prescribed Board / individual notifications |
| Retention & erasure | Section 8(7) / Rule 8 | Purpose-based deletion and relevant advance notices |
| Data Principal rights | Sections 11–14 / Rule 14 | Rights intake, response and grievance procedures |
| Children's data | Section 9 / Rules 10–12 | Verifiable parent/guardian consent where required |
| Significant Data Fiduciary | Section 10 / Rule 13 | Additional governance, DPO, impact assessments and audits |
PENALTIES UNDER THE ACT
Prevention is better than remediation after an incident.
These are statutory maximum penalties for selected contraventions, not standard fines. The Board considers relevant statutory factors when determining a penalty.
Discuss your priority risksReasonable security safeguardsUp to ₹250 crore
Breach notification obligationUp to ₹200 crore
Additional obligations concerning childrenUp to ₹200 crore
Significant Data Fiduciary obligationsUp to ₹150 crore
Certain other contraventionsUp to ₹50 crore
The statutory references and dates are provided for general information and should be reviewed with qualified Indian privacy counsel before use for legal decisions.
WHY THE VIRAL IDEASOperational clarity.
Operational clarity.
Built into the work.
Privacy programmes succeed when responsibility, technology and processes move together—not when policies live unread in a folder.
Start a conversationAssess before implementingPrioritise verified gaps and proportional controls.
Practical, cross-functional workflowsCoordinate business, product, technology and legal stakeholders.
Evidence as a deliverableLeave each stage with documentation your team owns.
Work alongside counselOperational execution remains aligned with qualified legal review.
SCOPED TO YOUR BUSINESS
What determines the cost?
An honest estimate needs to account for your systems, personal data, current controls, and how much implementation support you need.
A gap assessment is often the clearest way to scope a programme and price subsequent work. We provide a tailored proposal rather than a one-size-fits-all fee.
01
Number of systems and channels handling personal data
02
Data volume, nature and sensitivity
03
Whether children's data is involved
04
Potential Significant Data Fiduciary obligations
05
Existing controls and privacy maturity
06
Implementation, advisory and ongoing review scope
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions worth asking early.
What are DPDP compliance services?
They help businesses assess, implement and maintain obligations under India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and the DPDP Rules, 2025. Typical work covers data mapping, notices, consent, rights, incident response, vendor controls and auditing.
Who needs to comply with the DPDP Act?
The Act covers processing of digital personal data in India and certain processing outside India connected to offering goods or services to individuals in India, subject to statutory scope and exemptions. Business size alone does not determine applicability.
When do the main obligations take effect?
The Rules were published in November 2025. Consent Manager provisions are scheduled from November 2026, while most operational Data Fiduciary provisions are scheduled from May 2027.
How does a gap assessment differ from an audit?
A gap assessment identifies controls that are missing or incomplete and produces a prioritised roadmap. An audit evaluates controls already operating, checks evidence and identifies corrective actions.
Must every company appoint a Data Protection Officer?
No. Appointment of an India-based Data Protection Officer is required for Significant Data Fiduciaries. Other Data Fiduciaries must still make appropriate contact information available for questions about personal data.
How long does implementation take?
It depends on your current systems, volume and uses of personal data, vendors, risk and existing safeguards. An assessment produces a scope-based plan rather than a generic promise.
Is compliance software enough on its own?
No. Software can support workflow and evidence management, but your organisation still needs appropriate notices, decisions, contracts, controls and people accountable for them.
We already follow GDPR. Is that sufficient?
Not necessarily. The DPDP Act has its own requirements and definitions, including different approaches to consent, children's data and reporting. Existing GDPR controls are a useful starting point, not a substitute for a DPDP review.
What penalties can apply?
Depending on the breach, the statutory schedule provides for penalties of up to ₹250 crore for failure to take reasonable security safeguards and up to ₹200 crore for some breach-notification failures. Actual penalties depend on the Board's assessment.
Does The Viral Ideas provide legal opinions?
We provide operational compliance advisory and implementation support and can work alongside your qualified legal counsel. This page is general information, not a legal opinion or compliance certification.
THE VIRAL IDEAS / GET IN TOUCH
Ready to make privacy practical?
Tell us about your current systems, data flows or compliance questions. We’ll help identify a sensible next step—consultation, gap assessment or implementation planning.
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+91 95111 12789
+91 95111 12789