---
title: "Rule 16: Exemption from Act for research, archiving or statistical purposes"
url: https://dpdp.myndsolution.com/wiki/rules/rule-16-exemption-from-act-for-research-archiving-or-statistical/
description: "Rule 16 of the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 (Exemption from Act for research, archiving or statistical purposes). Official text verbatim…"
kind: rule
updated: 2026-09-09
official_source: https://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/2025/267650.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/rules/rule-16-exemption-from-act-for-research-archiving-or-statistical/
---
# Rule 16: Exemption from Act for research, archiving or statistical purposes

*The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, G.S.R. 846(E) dated 13 November 2025. Comes into force on 13 May 2027.*

## Official text

The provisions of the Act shall not apply to the processing of personal data necessary for research, archiving or statistical purposes if it is carried on in accordance with the standards specified in Second Schedule.


## Made under

- [s. 17 Exemptions](https://dpdp.myndsolution.com/wiki/act/section-17-exemptions/)

## 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.

Rule 16 provides an exemption from the Digital Personal Data Protection Act for certain types of data processing. If personal data is processed specifically for research, archiving, or statistical purposes, the standard rules of the Act do not apply. However, this exemption is not automatic or absolute. To qualify for it, the processing must be strictly necessary for those specific purposes. Additionally, the processing must follow the exact standards that are set out in the Second Schedule of the rules. If those standards are not met, the exemption does not apply.

### Key points

- The provisions of the Act do not apply to processing personal data for research, archiving, or statistical purposes.
- The processing must be necessary for these specific purposes to qualify for the exemption.
- The processing must be carried out in accordance with the standards specified in the Second Schedule.

### Common misreadings

- Assuming that any research or statistical work automatically exempts the processing from the Act, when it actually must follow the standards specified in the Second Schedule.

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

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Cite as: DPDP Rules, 2025, r. 16. Official source: https://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/2025/267650.pdf