Section7
The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023

Certain legitimate uses

In force Act 22 of 2023 As on 15 Oct 2026

Act 22 of 2023 Ministry Electronics and Information Technology Enacted 11 Aug 2023 Cited by 4 provisions Instruments 2

Section 7 of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 deals with certain legitimate uses. A Data Fiduciary may process personal data of a Data Principal for any of following uses, namely:--- (a) for the specified purpose for which the Data Principal has voluntarily provided her personal data to the Data Fiduciary, and in respect of which she has not indicated to the Data Fiduciary that s The Act was enacted on 11 Aug 2023.

A Data Fiduciary may process personal data of a Data Principal for any of following uses, namely:---

(a) for the specified purpose for which the Data Principal has voluntarily provided her personal data to the Data Fiduciary, and in respect of which she has not indicated to the Data Fiduciary that she does not consent to the use of her personal data.

Illustrations.

(I) X, an individual, makes a purchase at Y, a pharmacy. She voluntarily provides Y her personal data and requests Y to acknowledge receipt of the payment made for the purchase by sending a message to her mobile phone. Y may process the personal data of X for the purpose of sending the receipt.

(II) X, an individual, electronically messages Y, a real estate broker, requesting Y to help identify a suitable rented accommodation for her and shares her personal data for this purpose. Y may process her personal data to identify and intimate to her the details of accommodation available on rent. Subsequently, X informs Y that X no longer needs help from Y. Y shall cease to process the personal data of X;

(b) for the State and any of its instrumentalities to provide or issue to the Data Principal such subsidy, benefit, service, certificate, licence or permit as may be prescribed, where---

(i) she has previously consented to the processing of her personal data by the State or any of its instrumentalities for any subsidy, benefit, service, certificate, licence or permit; or

(ii) such personal data is available in digital form in, or in non-digital form and digitised subsequently from, any database, register, book or other document which is maintained by the State or any of its instrumentalities and is notified by the Central Government,

subject to standards followed for processing being in accordance with the policy issued by the Central Government or any law for the time being in force for governance of personal data.

Illustrations.

X. a pregnant woman, enrols herself on an app or website to avail of government's maternity benefits programme, while consenting to provide her personal data for the purpose of availing of such benefits. Government may process the personal data of X processing to determine her eligibility to receive any other prescribed benefit from the government;

(c) for the performance by the State or any of its instrumentalities of any function under any law for the time being in force in India or in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India or security of the State;

(d) for fulfilling any obligation under any law for the time being in force in India on any person to disclose any information to the State or any of its instrumentalities, subject to such processing being in accordance with the provisions regarding disclosure of such information in any other law for the time being in force;

(e) for compliance with any judgment or decree or order issued under any law for the time being in force in India, or any judgment or order relating to claims of a contractual or civil nature under any law for the time being in force outside India;

(f) for responding to a medical emergency involving a threat to the life or immediate threat to the health of the Data Principal or any other individual;

(g) for taking measures to provide medical treatment or health services to any individual during an epidemic, outbreak of disease, or any other threat to public health;

(h) for taking measures to ensure safety of, or provide assistance or services to, any individual during any disaster, or any breakdown of public order.

Explanation.---For the purposes of this clause, the expression "disaster" shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (d) of section 2 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (53 of 2005); or

(i) for the purposes of employment or those related to safeguarding the employer from loss or liability, such as prevention of corporate espionage, maintenance of confidentiality of trade secrets, intellectual property, classified information or provision of any service or benefit sought by a Data Principal who is an employee.

Section 7, The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (Act 22 of 2023).

Cross-references

Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.

Made under this section, and citing it

2 instruments name this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.

All subordinate legislation

Questions about Section 7

What does Section 7 of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act deal with?

Section 7 of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act is headed "Certain legitimate uses". A Data Fiduciary may process personal data of a Data Principal for any of following uses, namely:--- (a) for the specified purpose for which the Data Principal has voluntarily provided her personal data to the Data Fiduciary, and in respect of which she has not indicated to the Data Fiduciary that s

How do I find court cases under Section 7 of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act?

In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Digital Personal Data Protection Act 7, section 7 Digital Personal Data Protection Act, section 7 of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.

What should I read with Section 7 of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, and has it changed?

Its own text turns on Disaster Management Act 2 (Definitions), so none of them can safely be read on its own. 4 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. 2 instruments name it without being made under it, most recently Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules, 2025 (2025), then Enforcement Timeline for the DPDP Act (2025).

When was Section 7 of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act enacted?

Section 7 of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, cited as Digital Personal Data Protection Act 7, was enacted on 11 Aug 2023 as Act 22 of 2023. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.

Other sections of this Act

Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.