InfraVeritas360DPDPiqDPDP Insights › The law › Section 4
The law
Section 4: When you may process data
Personal data may be processed only for a lawful purpose, either with the person's consent or for one of the legitimate uses listed in Section 7.
What it means in your sector
- Central government: ministries and departments: For most scheme and service work the basis is a Section 7 legitimate use, not consent.
Questions where this section matters
- When do we need consent, and when can we rely on a legitimate use?
- Do we need citizens' consent to run a scheme?
Official text: Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and DPDP Rules, 2025 (MeitY). The DPDP Rules were notified on 13 November 2025. Consent Manager rules start on 13 November 2026. Most duties, including notice, security, breach reporting, retention, children's data and rights, start on 13 May 2027. A proposal discussed in early 2026 to bring this date forward had not been notified when this page was last reviewed.
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