DPIIT Leadership Shift: Sumeet Jarangal & Startup Compliance

Updated: 07 Jul 2026 · For: founders and COOs building compliance registers before scale

What changed

The recent shift in leadership at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) with Sumeet Jarangal moving to a bigger role brings significant implications for startups in India. This change underscores the importance of regulatory compliance for startups, with founders and COOs needing to prioritize building robust compliance registers to ensure seamless future scale and avoid potential regulatory hurdles. This piece explores the practical actions founders and COOs can take to build effective compliance registers, focusing on the essential elements that will help them navigate the complex regulatory landscape in India. By understanding the key components of compliance and implementing them early on, startups can mitigate risks, ensure legitimacy, and focus on growth without the burden of regulatory non-compliance.

What the law is (plain English)

The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and other relevant statutes emphasize the need for startups to maintain robust compliance registers. While specific sections of the DPDP Act, such as those related to data protection and privacy, are crucial, the broader legal framework also encompasses contractual obligations under the Indian Contract Act, 1872. Startups must ensure that their compliance measures align with these legal requirements to avoid potential penalties and ensure legitimate use of personal data.

What it means in practice

In conclusion, the shift in DPIIT leadership with Sumeet Jarangal's new role highlights the critical importance of compliance for startups in India. By focusing on building robust compliance registers, understanding the legal framework, and adopting best practices, founders and COOs can navigate the regulatory landscape effectively, ensuring their startups are well-positioned for future growth and success.

What founders should do this week

• **Data Inventory**: Map every data element collected to ensure transparency and compliance with data protection regulations.
• **Compliance Register**: Establish a comprehensive compliance register that documents all regulatory requirements and the measures taken to fulfill them.
• **Legitimate Use**: Ensure that the collection, processing, and sharing of personal data are for legitimate purposes and with appropriate consent.
• **Proportionality**: Implement data collection and processing practices that are proportionate to the intended purpose, minimizing unnecessary data handling.
• **Regular Audits**: Conduct regular audits to ensure ongoing compliance with regulatory requirements and to identify areas for improvement.

What can wait

• Policy rewrites that do not affect live product behaviour
• Board-level strategy shifts until applicability is confirmed

When to call counsel

• The update touches licensing, personal data at scale, or payment flows
• A customer or investor asks for a formal legal opinion on impact
• You have an inspection, transaction, or funding close inside 30 days

Founder FAQ

What is the significance of Sumeet Jarangal's new role at DPIIT for startups?

It emphasizes the importance of regulatory compliance for startups in India.

What are the key components of a compliance register for startups?

A comprehensive compliance register should document all regulatory requirements and the measures taken to fulfill them.

How can startups ensure legitimate use of personal data?

By ensuring that data collection, processing, and sharing are for legitimate purposes and with appropriate consent.

Source: Official source →

Topics: DPIIT leadership, Sumeet Jarangal, startup compliance, compliance registers, future scale, founder focus, COO priorities, regulatory compliance

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