Buying a DPDP platform requires more than feature slides — Indian buyers need verifiable controls for consent, data principal rights, breach notification, processor management, and evidence exports aligned with the DPDP Act 2023 and DPDP Rules 2025.
This RFP checklist lists 40 requirements procurement teams forget, grouped by module, plus a scoring template. For vendor comparisons, use the DPDP Platform Comparison 2026 whitepaper — this article does not re-rank vendors.
How to Use This Checklist
- Assign weights by your industry (BFSI: breach + voice consent; D2C: CMP + languages)
- Require proof: live demo, reference call, and trial tenant
- Score 0 / 1 / 2 per row (missing / partial / native)
- Reject vendors below 70% on must-have rows (marked ★)
Consent & Notice (10 requirements)
- ★ Purpose-specific, granular consent (Section 6)
- ★ Withdrawal as easy as grant; immutable audit trail
- ★ Tag manager / script blocking before consent
- Cookie scan and categorisation
- Preference centre for ongoing management
- Privacy notice versioning tied to consent records
- QR or offline consent capture (if retail/events)
- Voice consent for IVR/contact centres (if BFSI)
- 22 Eighth Schedule languages + English
- Hinglish or code-mixed UX (if mass-market B2C)
Data Principal Rights & Grievance (6 requirements)
- ★ Self-service DSR portal (access, correction, erasure)
- ★ Grievance workflow with SLA tracking (Section 13)
- Internal routing and escalation rules
- Response templates aligned with DPDP
- Nomination handling (Section 14) if applicable
- Exportable case history for Board inquiries
Breach & Security (6 requirements)
- ★ Breach incident register and severity classification
- ★ DPBI notification workflow (timeline configurable to Rules)
- Data principal notification templates
- CERT-In alignment support for operators subject to IT Act
- Integration with vulnerability scanning or SIEM
- Evidence of reasonable security safeguards (Section 8)
Accountability & Vendors (6 requirements)
- ★ Processing inventory / RoPA builder
- ★ Processor register and DPA templates
- Sub-processor tracking
- Cross-border transfer documentation (Section 16)
- Vendor risk assessments and periodic review
- DPIA or impact assessment workflow (SDF)
Assessment & Reporting (6 requirements)
- ★ DPDP-specific gap assessment (not generic security quiz)
- Section-level mapping to DPDP Rules 2025
- Remediation planner with owners and due dates
- Executive and Board dashboards
- Multi-framework support (DPDP + ISO 27001 + SOC 2) if needed
- One-click evidence export for audits
Commercial & Operations (6 requirements)
- ★ INR pricing and transparent TCO model
- Free tier or pilot for validation
- India data residency option or documented sub-processor list
- Implementation timeline < 30 days to first milestone
- API / SSO for enterprise IT
- Support SLA in IST with named CSM for paid tiers
Scoring Template (Sample Weights)
| Module | Weight | Vendor A | Vendor B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consent & notice | 25% | /25 | /25 |
| Rights & grievance | 20% | /20 | /20 |
| Breach & security | 15% | /15 | /15 |
| Accountability | 15% | /15 | /15 |
| Assessment | 15% | /15 | /15 |
| Commercial | 10% | /10 | /10 |
| Total | 100% |
After the RFP
Shortlist 2 vendors, run a 14-day pilot on production-like traffic, and validate consent logs and DSR exports. Engage consulting if internal teams lack deployment capacity.
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FAQ
What should a DPDP platform RFP include?
Consent audit trails, DSR/grievance automation, breach workflows, RoPA, vendor DPAs, DPDP-specific assessments, language support, INR TCO, and evidence exports — use the 40-item list above.
How is this different from a vendor comparison article?
This checklist is procurement-neutral; the whitepaper compares specific vendors for research.
What questions should we ask DPDP vendors in demos?
Ask for live withdrawal flow, proof of script blocking, sample DPBI breach pack, India language demo, and reference in your sector.
How long should a DPDP platform pilot be?
14–30 days on one production property or staging mirror with real consent volume.
Do we still need consultants if we buy a platform?
Often for mapping, DPA negotiation, and SDF programmes — see consultant guide.
Where is the DPDP platform comparison for 2026?
DPDP Platform Comparison 2026 whitepaper and related comparison blogs.