Core Data Protection Principles Under DPDP: A Simple Guide for Playschools

Playschools are built on trust. Parents entrust institutions with their children at the most vulnerable stage of life—expecting care, safety, and respect. In today’s digital environment, that trust also extends to how a child’s personal data is handled.

India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) 2023 is based on a set of fundamental data-protection principles. While the law does not list them in the same format as GDPR, the spirit is the same: data must be handled lawfully, responsibly, and with accountability.

For playschools, understanding these principles is essential. Not as legal theory, but as a guide for everyday decisions involving children’s data.

Lawfulness and Fairness: Always Act in the Child’s Best Interest

Under DPDP, personal data must be processed lawfully and fairly. For playschools, this means every data action must have a clear justification—usually parental consent, school necessity, or child safety.

Collecting or sharing data simply because it is convenient or routine is no longer acceptable. Parents should never feel surprised by how their child’s information is used.

Fairness means respecting expectations. If parents consent to photos for classroom updates, those images should not be reused elsewhere without permission. Lawful and fair processing protects both the child and the institution.

Purpose Limitation: Use Data Only for What You Said You Would

Playschools often collect data for specific reasons—admission, safety, communication, or learning updates. DPDP requires that data be used only for those stated purposes.

If a photo is taken to share daily activities with parents, it should not later be used for promotion unless fresh consent is obtained. If information is collected for emergency contact, it should not be repurposed for marketing or unrelated communication.

Clear purpose protects children from unnecessary exposure and reassures parents that boundaries are respected.

Data Minimisation: Collect Less to Protect More

One of the most important DPDP principles is data minimisation. Playschools should collect only what is genuinely necessary.

Young children do not need extensive data profiles. Excessive photos, repeated documents, or unnecessary personal details increase risk without adding value.

When playschools collect less data, they reduce the chances of misuse, leakage, or accidental exposure. Simplicity strengthens safety.

Accuracy: Keep Children’s Records Correct and Updated

Inaccurate data can be harmful—especially in playschools where safety information matters. Incorrect allergy notes, outdated emergency contacts, or wrong parent details can create real risk.

DPDP expects institutions to keep personal data accurate and up to date. Parents must be able to request corrections easily, and schools must respond responsibly.

Accuracy is not administrative work—it is child protection.

Storage Limitation: Do Not Keep Data Forever

Playschools often store photos, videos, and records long after they are needed, simply because no one reviews them.

DPDP requires that personal data be retained only as long as necessary for its purpose. Once a child leaves the playschool or the purpose is fulfilled, data should be reviewed and deleted unless legally required.

Old data creates silent risk. Regular cleanup is part of compliance.

Security and Confidentiality: Protect Children From Exposure

Children’s data must be protected against unauthorised access, misuse, or leakage. For playschools, this includes secure storage, controlled access, and careful sharing practices.

Informal systems—personal phones, open messaging groups, shared drives—make it difficult to guarantee confidentiality. DPDP expects institutions to adopt safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the data.

Security is not about advanced technology alone. It is about responsible handling.

Accountability: Be Ready to Explain and Demonstrate Care

Perhaps the most important principle under DPDP is accountability.

Playschools must be able to explain:

• What data they collect
• Why they collect it
• How they protect it
• How parents can exercise their rights

Accountability means having clarity, not excuses. Schools that can demonstrate thoughtful data practices handle parent questions confidently and avoid unnecessary conflict.

Why These Principles Matter More in Playschools

Playschools deal with children who cannot speak for themselves. Every decision is made entirely on their behalf.

These principles ensure that:

• Children are protected from early digital exposure
• Parents remain informed and respected
• Schools operate responsibly and confidently
• Trust is strengthened, not strained

DPDP does not expect perfection. It expects intention, care, and consistency.

Data Protection Is Part of Early Care

For playschools, data protection is not separate from education, it is part of nurturing children safely.

By following DPDP’s core principles: lawfulness, fairness, purpose limitation, minimisation, accuracy, security, and accountability, playschools honour both the law and the trust families place in them.

Protecting children’s data is not a technical task. It is an act of care.
Understand DPDP principles, set up clear consent practices, and protect children’s data with confidence. Book a Free Playschool DPDP Consultation