---
title: "DPDP Act Section 1: Short title and commencement | dpdpr.in"
description: "Section 1 of the DPDP Act 2023, Short title and commencement: the official text, what it means in plain English and Hindi, and who it affects."
url: "https://dpdpr.in/act/section-1/"
canonical: "https://dpdpr.in/act/section-1/"
site: "dpdpr.in"
updated: "2026-11-02"
disclaimer: "Independent reference, not legal advice. Not affiliated with the Government of India or MeitY."
---

# Section 1. Short title and commencement

DPDP Act, 2023 · Chapter I: Preliminary

## In simple words

This section gives the law its name: the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. It also lets the Central Government start different parts of the law on different dates by notification.

- **What this means for you**: The law did not start all at once. Check the start date of the part you care about.

- **What this means for businesses**: Your obligations start on the dates notified by the Government. Most duties start on 13 May 2027.

- **Everyday example**: The rules on setting up the Data Protection Board started on 13 November 2025, but the rules on consent notices start later.

## Who it applies to

Everyone reading the Act; it sets the name and the start dates.

## Related Rules

- [Rule 1. Short title and commencement](https://dpdpr.in/rules/rule-1/) In force

### Related sections

- [Section 2. Definitions](https://dpdpr.in/act/section-2/)

Official text as notified

Source: [MeitY copy of the Gazette (CG-DL-E-12082023-248045), page 1](https://www.meity.gov.in/static/uploads/2024/02/Digital-Personal-Data-Protection-Act-2023.pdf#page=1). Printed dashes are shown as colons; the wording is unchanged.

(1) This Act may be called the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.

(2) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint and different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act and any reference in any such provision to the commencement of this Act shall be construed as a reference to the coming into force of that provision.

## When this takes effect

- Whole section **In force since 13 November 2025**

Source: [G.S.R. 843(E)](https://www.meity.gov.in/static/uploads/2025/11/c56ceae6c383460ca69577428d36828b.pdf) and [rule 1](https://www.meity.gov.in/static/uploads/2025/11/53450e6e5dc0bfa85ebd78686cadad39.pdf). [All deadlines](https://dpdpr.in/deadlines/)