A DPDP compliance audit in India typically costs between ₹1.5 lakh and ₹3.5 lakh for a one-time, project-based engagement. The final fee depends on the size of the organisation, the data involved and the scope. This page explains what drives the price and what you get for it.
Indicative DPDP audit pricing
| Engagement | Indicative fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Project-based DPDP audit | ₹1.5 lakh to ₹3.5 lakh per engagement | One-time gap assessment against all 67 controls |
| Monthly retainer, DPO advisory | ₹25,000 to ₹45,000 per month | Ongoing virtual DPO function after the audit |
| Annual audit partner | ₹18,000 to ₹28,000 per day, or a 20 to 30% revenue share | IS audit and CERT-In empanelled firms adding a DPDP module |
These are indicative. GST applies, and a fixed quote follows a short scoping discussion.
What drives the cost
- Size and structure: number of entities, locations and business lines in scope
- Data volume and sensitivity: customer base size, and whether health, financial or children's data is involved
- Systems and processors: how many applications, vendors and data flows must be traced
- Evidence readiness: organised policies, logs and contracts reduce effort sharply
- Scope: assessment only, or assessment plus remediation roadmap and re-test
What is included in a project audit
- A personalised evidence checklist across 67 controls mapped to 21 sections of the Act
- Evidence intake with file hashing for chain of custody
- AI-assisted evidence organisation, with every conclusion made by the auditor
- An observations report and prioritised remediation roadmap
- Sign-off by Ram Krishan Dudeja, CISA CAIIB
Is an audit mandatory?
A periodic independent audit is mandatory for Significant Data Fiduciaries. Other Data Fiduciaries are not required to commission one, but a gap assessment ahead of the May 2027 compliance date is the most reliable way to budget remediation. Compared with penalties of up to ₹250 crore for weak security safeguards, the audit fee is small.
Reduce the cost of your audit
- Prepare a data inventory and list of vendors before the audit starts.
- Collect policies, access logs, contracts and consent screenshots in one place.
- Name one point of contact for evidence requests.
- Self-assess with the DPDP audit checklist first.
To get a quote, book a free consultation. See Significant Data Fiduciary obligations if you may be notified.