A user creates an account with a lending organization, enters their Aadhaar and PAN details, and with one click, agrees to the terms. Months later they want to revoke that data use consent—but there is no way to do this, no history log, and no information about data use.
Under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA), 2023, this type of experience is not only unacceptable, but punishable. Organizations must get user consent, keep it secure, share how it’s used clearly, and let users control it even after giving it.
In order to follow the rules, companies need to have a Consent Management Platform; this allows the company to captured consent and allow for modification and revoke. There are so many choices in the Indian market today it may be hard to select the best Consent Manager for you!
This article will outline the important functions of a Consent Manager, key features to look for based on DPDPA, as well as discuss popular options like Concur, OneTrust, Leegality, Cotrust from Digio, and HyperTrust from HyperVerge so you can select the right one for your compliance needs.
What is a Consent Manager?
A Consent Manager is a platform offered by a third-party digital service. The Consent Manager becomes operative upon a person providing their personal data to an organization called a Data Fiduciary. This can be happening through means such as Register, Contact Us, Loan Applications or Lead Generation. The Consent Manager will display clear and easy notices. It will inform how their data is being utilized and allow for consent to be gathered in a safe and easy way.
Consent Managers assist organizations to obtain and confirm user consent. Consent Managers have a secure repository for consent and can allow users to amend their consent or withdraw consent at any time. They provide a history of all consent actions, making consent management trackable, valid and verifiable. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, says people must have full control over their data. Consent Managers are key in making that happen.
Must Have Features of Consent Manager
When researching and confirming a consent manager under the DPDPA, consider the following key features and functionalities:
- Modular Integration: The CMP should work with all types of tech and easily connect with websites, apps, smart TVs, POS systems, vehicles, and any interface that handles personal data.
- Legacy Consent Collection: The CMP must let you reach out to old or inactive users. It should have tools to request fresh consent for existing data, ensuring continued legal processing.
- Granular Consent Mechanism: Consent must be specific to each purpose. The platform should use plain, easy language, offer multi-lingual and accessible interfaces, and not group consent types.
- Consent Lifecycle Management in Real-Time: The platform must let users withdraw, update, or renew consent instantly. It should support real-time changes to consent preferences for a smooth user experience.
- Tamper-Proof Consent Logs: The system securely records every time a user gives, changes, or withdraws consent. These records must be unchangeable, legally valid, time-stamped, and cryptographically verifiable. They can be used as proof in legal or regulatory matters.
- Self-Service User Dashboards: Users should get a clear dashboard to view all their consents and how their data is being used. They must be able to update, cancel, or renew consents easily. Users should also be able to request data access or corrections, and file complaints directly through the CMP.
- Audit Trail: Can you export the record and check if it’s valid for audits?
- Interoperability: Is the platform connected to your existing technology stack (CRM, HRMS, etc.)
- Security & Encryption: Does the platform connect well with your current systems like CRM, HRMS, etc.?
Must to Have Features of Consent Manager
Based on the review of the Business Requirements Document for the Consent Management System released by NeGD, we have created the following checklist and identified the interfaces required for the CMS system.
| Criteria | Simplified Description | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| User-Centric Design | Easy and clear interface to manage consent. | Objectives, Page 1 |
| Real-Time Feedback | Show instant message after any action like giving or withdrawing consent. | Consent Collection, Page 4 |
| Multi-Device Compatibility | Works on web, mobile, and other platforms. | Assumptions, Page 4 |
| WCAG Compliance | Support screen readers, keyboard use, etc. for accessibility. | Functional Requirements, Page 4 |
| Multi-Language Support | Notices in all 8th Schedule languages. | Consent Collection, Page 4 |
| Granular Consent Options | Give separate checkboxes for each purpose. | Consent Collection, Page 4 |
| Explicit Affirmative Action | No pre-selected boxes; user must click to consent. | Consent Collection, Page 4 |
| Revocation Ease | Make withdrawal as simple as giving consent. | Consent Withdrawal, Page 17 |
| Consent Metadata | Save user ID, purpose, time, and other details. | Consent Collection, Page 4 |
| Consent Logging | Log time, actions, and preferences securely. | Collection / Cookie Consent, Pages 4/22 |
| Modify/Revoke Consent | Let users update or cancel consent in real time. | Page 25 |
| User Notifications | Notify users when consent is submitted, changed, or renewed. | Page 27 |
| Audit Logging | Keep permanent, secure logs of all consent actions. | Pages 33–34 |
Top Consent Managers for DPDPA Compliance in India
Here are some of the most promising consent managers tailored for Indian regulations like DPDPA:
1. Concur – Consent Manager
- Most easy to use Consent Manager
- Strengths: Built specifically for Indian compliance needs, Concur offers a clean interface, multilingual support, and real-time dashboards. It also features click-to-consent, withdrawal workflows, and deep audit trails.
- Unique Features:
- Ideal For: SMEs, Fintech, and Healthcare sectors
- Website: www.concur.live
2. OneTrust
- Global Leader in Privacy Tech: Offers highly customizable consent banners, user dashboards, and policy management tools.
- DPDPA Readiness: Global platform now adapting to Indian laws. Heavy on configuration and best suited for enterprises.
- Ideal For: Multinationals, BFSI, Telecom
- Website: www.onetrust.com
3. Leegality
- Digital Documentation + Consent
- Known for eSignatures and compliance documentation.
- Offers DPDPA-aligned consent capture as part of their onboarding tools.
- Useful when digital contracts and consent must go hand-in-hand.
- Ideal For: LegalTech, NBFCs, Lending apps
- Website: www.leegality.com
4. Cotrust by Digio
- TRAI-aligned and RBI-pilot participant
- Cotrust focuses on use cases in the telecom and financial industries and integrates seamlessly with Digio’s Aadhaar-based verification stack.
- Unique Edge: Pre-integrated with national digital identity and verification layers.
- Ideal For: Banks, Insurance, Digital KYC use cases
- Website: www.digio.in
5. HyperTrust by HyperVerge
- AI-Powered Consent & Identity Layer
- Combines facial recognition, digital identity verification, and consent into one system.
- Great for user onboarding journeys where consent needs to be linked to identity proofs.
- Ideal For: Lending, Edtech, Regulated Platforms
- Website: www.hyperverge.co
Looking for the Best Consent Manager for DPDPA?
The DPDPA has redefined how companies in India manage personal data. Most importantly, it is now a legal expectation for businesses to collect distinct, informed, and revocable consent from users. In order for organizations to fulfill this requirement effectively, engaging the appropriate Consent Manager is essential.
Whether you are a new startup, a fintech organization, or an international enterprise, the suitable consent manager will be up to the specific needs of your organization based on products and services, users, and the types of data you collect amongst other factors. Therefore, it is a good idea to evaluate your usage, look for demos, and decide on a platform that integrates with your business systems.
One of the most recommended option is Concur – Consent Manager. Concur – Consent Manager is specifically built for DPDPA compliance and is used by many businesses in India. It is easy to use, secure, and is designed to comply with all legal requirements.
You can also explore other good options like OneTrust, Leegality, Cotrust by Digio, and HyperTrust by HyperVerge—each offers unique features depending on your needs
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. The consent managers mentioned—Concur, OneTrust, Leegality, Cotrust by Digio, and HyperTrust—are included based on publicly available information and do not imply any endorsement, certification, or official recognition under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA), 2023. The feature checklist provided is a general summary and may not reflect the complete or most up-to-date capabilities of each platform. Readers are encouraged to independently verify all details and consult legal or compliance professionals before making any decisions.
