Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) 2023: What It Means for Schools and Educational Institutions

Make Your Institution DPDP-Ready With Confidence

India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) 2023 marks a defining moment in how personal data is treated across the country. For the education sector, this law is especially significant. Schools and colleges handle some of the most sensitive data in society—children’s identities, photographs, academic records, and family information.

DPDPA does not view educational institutions as exceptions. Instead, it recognises them as high-responsibility data handlers, particularly when minors are involved.

This blog explains the DPDP Act 2023 in simple, practical terms for schools, playschools, colleges, and universities.

Why the DPDP Act Matters So Much for Education

Educational institutions collect and process personal data every day—often without consciously thinking of it as “data processing.” Admissions, attendance, communication, assessments, photographs, digital platforms, CCTV systems, and transport records all involve personal information.

The DPDP Act formalises what parents already expect:
that schools handle this information lawfully, transparently, and responsibly.

For institutions working with children, compliance is not just legal—it is ethical.

Who Is Protected Under the DPDP Act

The DPDP Act protects every individual’s personal data, with special attention to children. Any information that can identify a student, parent, or staff member—directly or indirectly—is considered personal data.

For schools, this includes names, contact details, photos, videos, health information, academic records, behavioural notes, and digital identifiers.

Children are recognised as a vulnerable group, which means institutions must apply additional care and safeguards when handling their data.

Consent and Lawful Processing in Schools

One of the core foundations of the DPDP Act is lawful processing. Schools can only collect and use personal data when there is a valid reason—most commonly parental consent, school necessity, or safety.

For minors, consent must come from parents or lawful guardians and must be clear, informed, and purpose-specific. Consent cannot be assumed or hidden inside long forms.

Schools must also respect consent withdrawal and ensure systems can reflect those changes in practice, not just on paper.

Data Minimisation and Purpose Limitation

The DPDP Act requires institutions to collect only what is necessary and to use data only for the purpose for which it was collected.

For schools, this means avoiding habitual or excessive data collection. Just because something can be collected does not mean it should be.

Data collected for admission should not be reused casually. Photos taken for internal updates should not automatically be used for promotion. Purpose boundaries matter.

Rights of Parents and Students

Under the DPDP Act, individuals (or parents, in the case of minors) have the right to:

• Know what data is being collected
• Access their data
• Request corrections
• Ask for deletion when data is no longer required
• Raise grievances

Schools must be prepared to respond to these requests calmly, clearly, and within reasonable timelines. Readiness here is a key marker of compliance maturity.

Data Security and Breach Responsibility

The Act places strong emphasis on reasonable security safeguards. Schools are expected to protect data from unauthorised access, misuse, or accidental exposure.

If a data breach occurs, institutions have a responsibility to assess it, document it, and report it within specified timelines. Ignoring or delaying response increases both legal and reputational risk.

Preparedness matters more than perfection.

Accountability Is the Core of DPDP

Perhaps the most important principle under DPDP is accountability.

Schools must be able to explain:

• Why they collect data
• How they protect it
• Who has access
• How long it is retained
• How rights are honoured

This does not require complex legal language. It requires clarity, structure, and intention.

Why DPDP Is an Opportunity for Schools

While DPDP introduces obligations, it also creates opportunity.

Schools that adopt privacy-first practices build stronger parent trust, reduce confusion, avoid crises, and position themselves as modern, responsible institutions.

In a digital-first education environment, data protection becomes a marker of quality.

DPDP Is About Responsible Education

The DPDP Act 2023 is not designed to disrupt education, it is designed to protect people.

For schools, playschools, colleges, and universities, compliance is about respecting children, reassuring parents, and operating with integrity in a connected world.

DPDP is not a burden. It is a framework for responsible education.

Make Your Institution DPDP-Ready With Confidence. Get education-specific audits, staff training, privacy-first workflows, and ongoing compliance support. Book a Free DPDP Readiness Consultation