SARC panels urge data protection readiness at Vibrant Goa summit
Experts at the Vibrant Goa Global Business Summit 2026 highlighted the need for compliance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act.
SARC Global has called for government departments, public sector undertakings (PSUs), and businesses to prepare for the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, according to The Tribune. The call was made during two high-level panel discussions at the Vibrant Goa Global Business Summit 2026 held on October 31.
The discussions focused on data security and the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI). Panellists noted that key obligations under the DPDP framework, such as security safeguards and breach notifications, are scheduled to take effect on May 13, 2027.
During a session regarding the SBI data exposure, panellists stated that organisations must move beyond basic IT security to create data governance frameworks. They noted that penalties for failing to comply with the DPDP Act could reach ₹250 crore.
In a second session regarding the Goa AI Policy 2026, experts discussed the requirements for Goa to become an AI-enabled state. They identified four pillars for this transition: secure digital infrastructure, quality data, skilled human resources, and human accountability.
CA Rajendra Bagade, a Senior Partner at SARC Global, said that traditional auditing is insufficient for the AI era. He suggested that auditing must include processes, coding, and algorithms, especially when banks and government entities handle public data.
The summit concluded with Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant inviting investors to the state. The Goa Investment Promotion Board signed nine Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) worth approximately ₹8,600 crore during the event.