---
title: "certain legitimate uses: meaning under the DPDP Act"
url: https://dpdp.myndsolution.com/wiki/glossary/certain-legitimate-uses/
description: "\"certain legitimate uses\" as defined in section 2(d) of the DPDP Act, 2023: the official definition, its plain meaning, and where the term is used."
kind: term
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/glossary/certain-legitimate-uses/
---
# certain legitimate uses

## Official definition

**Act, s. 2(d):** (d) “certain legitimate uses” means the uses referred to in section 7;


## 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.

The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 uses the phrase "certain legitimate uses" to describe specific situations where personal data may be processed. However, Section 2(d) does not actually list what these uses are. Instead, it defines the term simply by pointing the reader to another part of the law. It states that "certain legitimate uses" means the uses referred to in Section 7 of the Act.\n\nThis type of definition acts as a legal shortcut. Whenever the phrase "certain legitimate uses" appears anywhere else in the Act, it automatically carries the meaning and the specific list of situations detailed in Section 7. By structuring the definition this way, the law avoids repeating a long list of uses every time the concept is mentioned, relying entirely on Section 7 to set the actual boundaries and rules for these uses.

### Key points

- The term "certain legitimate uses" is defined strictly by referencing another section of the Act (Section 2(d)).
- The actual uses that qualify under this term are located in Section 7 (Section 2(d)).

### Common misreadings

- Assuming Section 2(d) provides a general or open-ended definition of legitimate uses, when it actually restricts the meaning only to the specific uses listed in Section 7.

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

## Used in

- [s. 4 Grounds for processing personal data](https://dpdp.myndsolution.com/wiki/act/section-4-grounds-for-processing-personal-data/)