Educational institutions hold detailed records on students, parents and staff — and most students are children under the Act. That puts schools and colleges in the DPDP Act's most protective zone.
Students are mostly children
For under-18 students, you generally need verifiable parental consent to process personal data, and you must not track or profile them for advertising. See children's data under the DPDP Act.
The educational exemption
The Rules give institutions room to process children's data for the child's education, safety and protection — attendance, academic records, health and safety. It is purpose-bound and does not extend to commercial use.
Vendors and edtech tools
Learning platforms, exam tools and communication apps are processors. Contract with them, and be clear about who collects parental consent and how long student data is kept.
A school/college checklist
- Verifiable parental consent for under-18 processing (within the exemption).
- Plain notices for parents, students and staff.
- Vendor contracts with every edtech and service provider.
- Security for records; retention limited to need and law.
- A grievance contact for parents and students.
How DPDP Bridge helps
DPDP Bridge helps education institutions handle children's data correctly — parental consent, notices, vendor contracts and secure records. Take the free assessment to see exactly where you stand and what to do next.
This article is general information about the DPDP Act and is not legal advice. For guidance specific to your organisation, take the free assessment or speak to our team.