The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act is now in force and most business owners still assume it's "only for the big companies." It isn't. If your organisation touches personal data in any form, this conversation is for you. In this special episode in collaboration with Zoho Contracts, we sit down with Priyanka Sharma, Head of Technology Laws at the Aditya Birla Group (and a Data Protection Officer), to break the DPDP Act down to its nuts and bolts i.e. what it is, who it applies to, and the practical steps every founder, professional, and in-house team needs to take. Drawing on her experience implementing GDPR for US clients before returning to India, Priyanka explains why the DPDP Act is best understood as a trust law, not a data law — and why that single shift in mindset changes how you build your entire privacy programme. What we cover: 1. Why DPDP applies to every organisation, not just large enterprises 2. "Personal data," "data fiduciary," and "data principal" are explained simply (including the toy analogy that even a 5-year-old understood) 3. Why a privacy policy alone is NOT a privacy programme 4. The myth of "throwing technology at the problem" 5. How vendor and processor relationships create real liability — and where contracts become your safeguard 6. Practical HR examples: talent acquisition, payroll partners, and onboarding 7. Why consent is not a one-time exercise — and the right to withdraw it 8. AI, nudges, and the next wave of data privacy questions The big takeaway: DPDP compliance isn't a licence you obtain once. It's an ongoing discipline that becomes part of your culture and, done well, a genuine competitive advantage. Our guest: Priyanka Sharma is the Head of Technology Laws, Aditya Birla Group. She's a Data Protection Officer, and a member of several industry and government-facing councils on data privacy, AI governance, and cyber security law. This episode is produced in collaboration with Zoho Contracts - Zoho's comprehensive, AI-powered contract management software. Our thanks to the entire Zoho Contracts team for enabling this series. To follow or reach out to Zoho Contracts: Website: https://www.zoho.com/contracts/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zoho-contracts/ Ebook link: https://www.zoho.com/contracts/ebooks/dpdpa.html The Daily Lawyer is where the legal, policy, and finance world comes for honest conversations about the law and everything connected to it. 🔔 Subscribe for new episodes 📩 Write in with your questions. We read every email, comment, and message, and many of these questions came from you. Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailylawyerig/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-daily-lawyer Website: https://thedailylawyer.in/ Email: contactus@thedailylawyer.in Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & all major platforms. ⚠️ This conversation is for general awareness and education and is not legal advice. For advice specific to your organisation, please consult a qualified professional. #DPDP #DataProtection #DataPrivacy #DPDPAct #IndiaLaw #PrivacyLaw #ZohoContracts #TheDailyLawyer #DataFiduciary #GDPR #TechLaw #Compliance #InHouseCounsel
