What is a Consent Manager under the DPDP Act and what rights do I have over my data?

Question

I keep hearing about Consent Managers under the new data protection law. What are they and what rights do I have as a data principal? I have been reading conflicting things online and I would like to understand what Indian law actually says about this, which Act and Section applies, what the realistic timelines and costs are, and what I should be doing right now to protect my position. If the matter can be resolved without litigation I would prefer that route, but I want to know what my rights are before I agree to anything or sign any document.

MyVakeel Legal Desk · Accepted Answer

What is a Consent Manager under the DPDP Act and what rights do I have over my data? is governed in India primarily by Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, Section 6, Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, Section 11, Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, Section 12 and Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, Section 13. The short answer is set out below, followed by the practical steps most people in this situation need to take. Read it alongside the specific provisions named, because the exact relief available to you turns on the facts you can prove on paper.

Section 6 of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 allows you to give, manage, review, and withdraw your consent to a data fiduciary through an independent, registered Consent Manager rather than dealing with each entity separately.

A Consent Manager acts as a single interoperable point through which you can track which entities are processing your data and revoke consent easily, and it must be registered with the Data Protection Board.

As a data principal, Section 11 of the Act gives you the right to obtain a summary of your personal data being processed and the identities of other fiduciaries it has been shared with.

Section 12 gives you the right to correction, completion, updating, and erasure of your personal data once it is no longer necessary for the purpose it was collected.

Section 13 gives you the right to have your grievance redressed by the data fiduciary or Consent Manager within a specified time before you approach the Data Protection Board.

What to do next: 1) Identify which entities are processing your data and register with a Consent Manager if offered; 2) Use the fiduciary's grievance mechanism first to request correction or erasure of your data; 3) Escalate an unresolved grievance to the Data Protection Board of India; 4) Keep records of consent given and withdrawn for future reference.

If the other side has already issued a notice, filed a case or set a deadline, treat the matter as time-sensitive — most remedies under Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, Section 6 carry limitation periods, and a delay you cannot explain weakens an otherwise strong case. You can post the details on the MyVakeel forum for a practising advocate to review, or book a paid consultation with a Bar Council verified lawyer in this practice area.