Subject to the provisions of this Act, it shall—
(a) apply to the processing of digital personal data within the territory of India where the personal data is collected––
(i) in digital form; or
(ii) in non-digital form and digitised subsequently;
(b) also apply to processing of digital personal data outside the territory of India, if such processing is in connection with any activity related to offering of goods or services to Data Principals within the territory of India;
(c) not apply to—
(i) personal data processed by an individual for any personal or domestic purpose; and
(ii) personal data that is made or caused to be made publicly available by—
(A) the Data Principal to whom such personal data relates; or
(B) any other person who is under an obligation under any law for the time being in force in India to make such personal data publicly available.
Illustration. X, an individual, while blogging her views, has publicly made available her personal data on social media. In such case, the provisions of this Act shall not apply.
Notes / Explanation
This outlines the 'playing field'. The Act applies to digital personal data processed in India. It significantly also applies to companies *outside* India if they are offering goods or services to people in India. It does *not* apply to data you put into old-school paper files unless they are digitized, nor to data you process for purely personal or domestic reasons.