Chapter VIII — Penalties and adjudication

Section 33 — Penalties

33. (1) If the Board determines on conclusion of an inquiry that breach of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder by a person is significant, it may, after giving the person an opportunity of being heard, impose such monetary penalty specified in the Schedule.

(2) While determining the amount of monetary penalty to be imposed under sub-section (1), the Board shall have regard to the following matters, namely:—

(a) the nature, gravity and duration of the breach;

(b) the type and nature of the personal data affected by the breach;

(c) repetitive nature of the breach;

(d) whether the person, as a result of the breach, has realised a gain or avoided any loss;

(e) whether the person took any action to mitigate the effects and consequences of the breach, and the timeliness and effectiveness of such action;

(f) whether the monetary penalty to be imposed is proportionate and effective, having regard to the need to secure observance of and deter breach of the provisions of this Act; and

(g) the likely impact of the imposition of the monetary penalty on the person.

Source: The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (No. 22 of 2023), Act No. 22 of 2023, Gazette of India Extraordinary, 11 August 2023; SHA-256 4deb23981d30… — verified copy

Plain-language note

Plain-language note pending

Questions people ask about this provision

  • What are the penalties for non-compliance with the DPDP Act?
  • What is the maximum penalty under the DPDP Act?
  • Who imposes penalties under the DPDP Act?
  • How can organizations achieve and reduce risks in DPDP compliance?
  • Can the Data Protection Board impose penalties or issue a warning instead of a fine under the DPDP Act?
  • How does the Data Protection Board determine and calculate penalty amounts under the DPDP Act?
  • What happens if a business fails to comply with the DPDP Act?
  • What is the penalty for failing to report a data breach under the DPDP Act?

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