The DPDP: An 18-month compliance imperative for the C-suite

The notification of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules, 2025, marks the formal operationalization of India’s first comprehensive data privacy regime. This event transforms the foundational legal principles of the DPDP Act, 2023, into an enforceable, time-bound compliance mandate. The time for analysis has concluded; the timeline for implementation has begun, signalling a fundamental shift for all Indian enterprises.

I. The Compliance Imperative: The ₹250 Crore Risk and the SARAL Mandate

A. Legislative Shift: From Principle to Playbook

While the DPDP Act established the core framework and principles, the Rules provide the critical operational procedures, specific technical standards, and enforcement timelines—the “how”—that organizations must follow.

Risk Quantification: The ₹250 Crore Liability

The most critical factor demanding immediate executive attention is the quantified risk of non-compliance. Failure to implement “reasonable security safeguards” (Rule 6) is explicitly cited as carrying the highest potential penalty under ...