Appointment of Chairperson & Members
Search-cum-selection process for the Data Protection BoardThe Central Government appoints the Board's Chairperson and Members through search-cum-selection committees.
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The Central Government appoints the Board's Chairperson and Members through search-cum-selection committees. The Chairperson committee is chaired by the Cabinet Secretary; the Member committee by the MeitY Secretary. Each includes legal and tech experts. Government appoints from committee recommendations.
Key points
- Cabinet Secretary chairs Chairperson selection committee
- MeitY Secretary chairs Member selection committee
- Two domain experts on each committee
This rule gives effect to Section 19 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).
17.Appointment of Chairperson and other Members. - (1) The Central Government shall constitute a Search-cum-Selection Committee, with the Cabinet Secretary as the chairperson and the Secretaries to the Government of India in charge of the Department of Legal Affairs and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and two experts of repute having special knowledge or practical experience in a field which in the opinion of the Central Government may be useful to the Board as members, to recommend individuals for appointment as Chairperson. (2) The Central Government shall constitute a Search-cum-Selection Committee, with the Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology as the chairperson and the Secretary to the Government of India in charge of the Department of Legal Affairs, and two experts of repute having special knowledge or practical experience in a field which in the opinion of the Central Government may be useful to the Board as members, to recommend individuals for appointment as a Member other than the Chairperson. (3) The Central Government shall, after considering the suitability of individuals recommended by the Search-cum-Selection Committee, appoint the Chairperson or other Member, as the case may be. (4) No act or proceeding of the Search-cum-Selection Committee specified in sub-rules (1) and (2) of this rule shall be called in question on the ground merely of the existence of any vacancy or absences in such committee or defect in its constitution.