A personal data breach can create immediate legal, operational, and reputational consequences for an organisation. Under India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act) and the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 (DPDP Rules), specific obligations have been prescribed for Data Fiduciaries following a personal data breach. While organisations may already have broader data protection and cybersecurity measures in place, breach notification requires a distinct and time-sensitive response. The DPDP framework requires communication both to affected Data Principals and to the Data Protection Board of India.
The DPDP Rules were notified on 13 November 2025 and provide for phased commencement. The substantive provisions relating to breach notification are scheduled to come into force after 18 months, i.e. in May 2027. Organisations should nevertheless use the implementation period to establish and test their breach notification processes.