Question 1

What is the penalty for non-compliance under the DPDP Act, 2023?

Accepted Answer

Penalties under the DPDP Act, 2023 can run up to ₹250 crore per instance for a significant data breach caused by a failure to implement reasonable security safeguards, with other categories of non-compliance carrying their own separate penalty slabs. Exact penalties depend on the nature of the breach and are determined by the Data Protection Board of India.

Question 2

Who needs to comply with the DPDP Act — only large enterprises?

Accepted Answer

Any entity (Data Fiduciary) that determines the purpose and means of processing personal data of individuals in India is in scope, regardless of size — including startups, SaaS companies and traditional businesses that collect customer, employee or vendor personal data.

Question 3

What's the difference between a Data Fiduciary and a Data Processor?

Accepted Answer

A Data Fiduciary decides why and how personal data is processed and carries primary compliance obligations. A Data Processor processes data on the Fiduciary's behalf and instructions. Most organizations are Fiduciaries for their own customer/employee data and may also be Processors for a client's data — we help you map which role applies where.

Question 4

What is a Data Principal Rights (DSR) request, and what's the timeline?

Accepted Answer

A DSR is a request from an individual (Data Principal) to access, correct, update or erase their personal data, or to withdraw consent. The DPDP Rules set defined response timelines — we help you design and operationalize a workflow that meets them consistently, not just on paper.

Question 5

How long does a DPDP gap assessment take?

Accepted Answer

Most organizations complete an initial gap assessment and roadmap within 2–3 weeks from kickoff, depending on the number of systems, vendors and data flows in scope. Full program implementation (consent, DSR, DPIA, breach playbook) is scoped individually on the call.

Question 6

Is this the same as the general Privacy Policy on your website?

Accepted Answer

No — our website's own Privacy Policy explains how Invield handles your data as a visitor. This assessment is a service we deliver for your organization, to help you become and stay compliant with the DPDP Act for your own customers, employees and vendors.

Question 7

Do you help with both the assessment and the implementation?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We start with a gap assessment and roadmap, then support implementation — consent management, DSR workflows, DPIAs, breach-notification playbooks and cross-border transfer compliance — through to a board-ready compliance report.

Question 8

When do the DPDP Rules 2025 apply?

Accepted Answer

The DPDP Rules were notified in November 2025 and apply in phases. The Data Protection Board provisions applied immediately, Consent Manager provisions apply after 12 months (November 2026), and most Data Fiduciary obligations, including notices, consent, security safeguards, breach reporting and data principal rights, apply after 18 months, in May 2027. Our DPDP Rules checklist sets out each step.

Question 9

What are the DPDP penalties for each type of breach?

Accepted Answer

Under the Schedule to the DPDP Act the maximum penalties are: ₹250 crore for failing to take reasonable security safeguards, ₹200 crore for failing to notify a personal data breach, ₹200 crore for breaching children's data obligations, ₹150 crore for breaching Significant Data Fiduciary obligations, and ₹50 crore for other breaches of the Act or Rules.

Question 10

What is DPO-as-a-service?

Accepted Answer

Only Significant Data Fiduciaries must appoint a Data Protection Officer, who must be based in India and report to the board. Every other Data Fiduciary must publish contact details of someone who can answer questions about its processing. With DPO-as-a-service, our privacy team runs your privacy office for you: handling data principal requests and grievances, keeping records, running DPIAs and advising your board, alongside the person you name internally.

Question 11

Why work with a DPDP Act compliance consultant?

Accepted Answer

The Act and Rules touch legal, IT, security, HR and marketing at once. A DPDP compliance consultant maps your personal data, finds the gaps, prioritises fixes against the May 2027 deadline and builds the evidence you need if the Data Protection Board ever asks. We combine privacy and cybersecurity, so security safeguards and breach readiness are covered too.

Know Your DPDP Risk. Before They Do.

Request Your Free DPDP Assessment

A 5-step path from gap to compliance

Scoping & Data Discovery

Gap Assessment

Consent & DSR Workflow Design

Breach Readiness & DPIA

Board-Ready Reporting & Sign-off

Why compliance & privacy teams choose Invield

Built for the DPDP Act, 2023

ISO 27001:2022 certified

Compliance-ready, not just advisory

Common questions about DPDP compliance

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