---
title: "Section 42: Power to amend Schedule"
url: https://dpdp.myndsolution.com/wiki/act/section-42-power-to-amend-schedule/
description: "Section 42 of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (Power to amend Schedule). Official text verbatim, in force since 13 november 2025, with…"
kind: act-section
updated: 2026-09-09
official_source: https://www.meity.gov.in/static/uploads/2024/06/2bf1f0e9f04e6fb4f8fef35e82c42aa5.pdf
text_type: official-text-plus-interpretation
publisher: MYND Integrated Solutions
license: Official Government of India texts are reproduced verbatim (public domain / open government data). Interpretation is CC BY 4.0, MYND Integrated Solutions.
disclaimer: Not legal advice. Official text prevails over any interpretation.
html_version: https://dpdp.myndsolution.com/wiki/act/section-42-power-to-amend-schedule/
---
# Section 42: Power to amend Schedule

*The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (No. 22 of 2023), Chapter IX: MISCELLANEOUS. In force since 13 November 2025.*

## Official text

- **(1)** The Central Government may, by notification, amend the Schedule, subject to the restriction that no such notification shall have the effect of increasing any penalty specified therein to more than twice of what was specified in it when this Act was originally enacted.

- **(2)** Any amendment notified under sub-section (1) shall have effect as if enacted in this Act and shall come into force on the date of the notification.



## Interpretation in plain English (not legal advice)

> This is a plain-English interpretation of the official text, prepared by the DPDP Wiki editorial team. It is not the law and not legal advice, and it may be incomplete or wrong. Always rely on the official text of the Act, the Rules and the notifications, and take advice from a qualified professional for your situation.

Section 42 gives the Central Government the power to change the Schedule of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. The Schedule is the part of the law that lists the financial penalties for breaking different rules. The government can make these changes simply by issuing a public notice, known as a notification. However, there is a strict limit on how much the government can increase the fines. The Central Government cannot raise any penalty in the Schedule to more than double the amount that was originally written when the Act was first passed. Once the government issues a notification to change the Schedule, the new rules take effect immediately on the date of that notification. From that day forward, the updated Schedule is treated exactly as if it were written into the original law.

### Key points

- The Central Government can change the Schedule of the Act by issuing a notification (1).
- The government cannot increase any penalty to more than twice its original amount (1).
- Any change to the Schedule takes effect immediately on the date the notification is issued (2).
- An amended Schedule has the same legal force as if it were enacted in the original Act (2).

### Common misreadings

- People might think the government can increase penalties by any amount, but the law strictly caps increases at twice the original penalty.
- People might assume changes to the Schedule require a new law to be passed by Parliament, but the Central Government can do it by notification.

*Interpretation prepared 2026-09-09 from the official text only; the official text prevails.*

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Cite as: Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, s. 42. Official source: https://www.meity.gov.in/static/uploads/2024/06/2bf1f0e9f04e6fb4f8fef35e82c42aa5.pdf