Verifiable parental consent
Reliable methods to confirm a parent's identity and age before processingBefore processing a child's data, a Fiduciary must get verifiable consent from a parent (an adult aged 18+).
Download full Rules (PDF)In plain English
Before processing a child's data, a Fiduciary must get verifiable consent from a parent (an adult aged 18+). Verification can use identity details already held by the Fiduciary, details voluntarily provided, or a virtual token from a government-authorised entity or Digital Locker.
Key points
- Parent must be verified as an identifiable adult (18+)
- Accept reliable existing records, voluntary ID, or government-issued tokens
- Digital Locker services count as authorised verification
This rule gives effect to Section 9 of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
Read the parent sectionOfficial rule text
Reproduced from the Gazette notification (G.S.R. 846(E), 13 November 2025).
10. Verifiable consent for processing of personal data of child. - (1) A Data Fiduciary shall adopt appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure that verifiable consent of the parent is obtained before the processing of any personal data of a child and shall observe due diligence, for checking that the individual identifying herself as the parent is an adult who is identifiable if required in connection with compliance with any law for the time being in force in India, by reference to - (a) reliable details of identity and age of the individual available with the Data Fiduciary; or (b) details of identity and age, voluntarily provided - (i) by the individual; or (ii) through a virtual token mapped to such details, which is issued by an authorised entity. (2) In this rule, the expression - (a) “adult” shall mean an individual who has completed the age of eighteen years; (b) “authorised entity" shall mean - (i) an entity entrusted by law or by the Central Government or by the State Government with the issuance of details of the identity and age or a virtual token mapped to such details; or 28 (ii) a person appointed or permitted by the entity specified under clause (i), for such issuance, and also includes details of identity and age or token made available and verified by a Digital Locker Service Provider; (c) “Digital Locker service provider” shall mean such intermediary, including a body corporate or an agency of the appropriate Government, as may be notified by the Central Government, in accordance with the rules made in this regard under the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000); Illustration. C is a child, P is a parent, and DF is a Data Fiduciary. A user account of C is sought to be created on the online platform of DF, by processing the personal data of C. Case 1: C informs DF that she is a child and declares P as her parent. DF shall enable P to identify herself through its website, app or other appropriate means. P identifies herself as the parent and informs DF that she is a registered user on DF’s platform and has previously made available her identity and age details to DF. Before processing C’s personal data for the creation of her user account, DF shall check to confirm that it holds reliable identity and age details of P and that P is an identifiable adult. Case 2: C informs DF that she is a child and declares P as her parent. DF shall enable P to identify herself through its website, app or other appropriate means. P identifies herself as the parent and informs DF that she herself is not a registered user on DF’s platform. Before processing C’s personal data for the creation of her user account, DF shall, by reference to identity and age details issued by an entity entrusted by law or the Government with maintenance of the said details or to a virtual token mapped to the identity and age, check that P is an identifiable adult. P may voluntarily make such details available using the services of a Digital Locker service provider. Case 3: P is opening an account for C and identifies herself as C’s parent and informs DF that she is a registered user on DF’s platform and has previously made available her identity and age details to DF. Before processing C’s personal data for the creation of her user account, DF shall check to confirm that it holds reliable identity and age details of P and that P is an identifiable adult. Case 4: P is opening an account for C and identifies herself as C’s parent and informs DF that she herself is not a registered user on DF’s platform. Before processing C’s personal data for the creation of her user account, DF shall, by reference to identity and age details issued by an entity entrusted by law or the Government with maintenance of the said details or to a virtual token mapped to the identity and age, check that P is an identifiable adult. P may voluntarily make such details available using the services of a Digital Locker service provider.