DPDP Act 2023 · Section 32

Voluntary undertaking

Status: Not yet in force
Commencement: 13 May 2027 · computed date, presented as interpretation until officially confirmed (how it is computed)
Source: The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (Gazette print hosted by MeitY) · Gazette page 16
Last verified: 17 August 2026

What section 32 says, in plain English

Plain English

Not yet in force; the computed date is 13 May 2027, which is interpretation until officially confirmed. The summary below is what the provision says, not what is in force today. Status last checked 28 September 2026 against the MeitY library and India Code.

At any stage of a section 28 proceeding, the Board may accept a voluntary undertaking from a person about observing the Act and may vary its terms with that person's consent. Acceptance bars proceedings on the matters it covers, but breaking it is deemed a breach of the Act, letting the Board proceed under section 33 after offering a hearing.

How 13 May 2027 is computed, and why it could be 1 day later

Publication date 13 November 2025 printed on Gazette issue No. 757, plus eighteen months. The notification states a period rather than a calendar date and does not state how the period is counted. The eGazette record of this same issue carries a code embedding 14112025, which would move the computed date by 1 day; the printed masthead date is used, and the interpretation label carries that uncertainty. CORRECTED 2026-08-25: this note previously also cited the Government's own PIB release for 14 November 2025. That release is about the DPDP Rules, 2025, G.S.R. 846(E) in Gazette issue No. 760, and says nothing about this Act commencement notification, G.S.R. 843(E) in issue No. 757. The missing space in the phrase "section 6,sections 7 to 10" appears as printed in the Gazette text layer.

Official text of section 32

Official requirement · verbatim

Section 32. Voluntary undertaking.(1) The Board may accept a voluntary undertaking in respect of any matter related to observance of the provisions of this Act from any person at any stage of a proceeding under section 28. (2) The voluntary undertaking referred to in sub-section (1) may include an undertaking to take such action within such time as may be determined by the Board, or refrain from taking such action, and or publicising such undertaking. (3) The Board may, after accepting the voluntary undertaking and with the consent of the person who gave the voluntary undertaking vary the terms included in the voluntary undertaking. (4) The acceptance of the voluntary undertaking by the Board shall constitute a bar on proceedings under the provisions of this Act as regards the contents of the voluntary undertaking, except in cases covered by sub-section (5). (5) Where a person fails to adhere to any term of the voluntary undertaking accepted by the Board, such breach shall be deemed to be breach of the provisions of this Act and the Board may, after giving such person an opportunity of being heard, proceed in accordance with the provisions of section 33.

Commencement basis · Sections 3 to 5, section 6(1) to (8) and (10), sections 7 to 17, section 27 other than section 27(1)(d), sections 28 to 34, sections 36 and 37, and section 44(2) of the Act

“(c) eighteen months from the date of publication of this gazette, on which the provision of sections 3 to 5, sub-sections (1) to (8) and (10) of section 6,sections 7 to 10, sections 11 to 17, section 27 except clause (d) of sub-section (1) of the said section, sections 28 to 34, 36, 37 and sub-section (2) of section 44 of the said Act shall come into force.”

From commencement notification G.S.R. 843(E), Gazette issue No. 757, printed date 13 November 2025.

Sources cited on this page

[1]
The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (Gazette print hosted by MeitY) (Act No. 22 of 2023), s. 32, p. 16. Published 11 August 2023. Official source ↗ · Official requirement · Verified 17 August 2026Not yet in force; the computed date is 13 May 2027, which is interpretation until officially confirmedThe phrase "refrain from taking such action, and or publicising such undertaking" in sub-section (2) appears as printed.
[2]
Commencement notification for the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (G.S.R. 843(E)), (c), p. 2. Published 13 November 2025. Official source ↗ Also on MeitY (byte identical) ↗ · Official requirement · Verified 17 August 2026Document status: published; in effect per its own termsNotification G.S.R. 843(E) names this section, within sections 28 to 34, in the group that comes into force eighteen months from the date of publication of the notification gazette. The computed calendar date, 13 May 2027, is interpretation until officially confirmed.
[3]
Commencement notification for the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (G.S.R. 843(E)), (c), p. 2. Published 13 November 2025. Official source ↗ Also on MeitY (byte identical) ↗ · Official requirement · Verified 17 August 2026Document status: published; in effect per its own terms
eighteen months from the date of publication of this gazette, on which the provision of sections 3 to 5, sub-sections (1) to (8) and (10) of section 6,sections 7 to 10, sections 11 to 17, section 27 except clause (d) of sub-section (1) of the said section, sections 28 to 34, 36, 37 and sub-section (2) of section 44 of the said Act shall come into force.
[4]
Commencement notification for the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (G.S.R. 843(E)), p. 1. Published 13 November 2025. Official source ↗ Also on MeitY (byte identical) ↗ · Interpretation, requires judgment · Verified 17 August 2026Document status: published; in effect per its own termsThe calendar date 13 May 2027 is computed from the printed publication date and is presented as interpretation until officially confirmed. It aligns with the derived date for the main group of the DPDP Rules 2025.