DPDP Mascot Design with a Name Contest (India)

Deadline: 30-Sep-2026

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is undertaking a nationwide awareness programme to help citizens understand their rights over their personal data. As part of this initiative, participants are invited to create an original mascot and suggest a suitable name that can communicate the importance of personal data protection to citizens across India. The contest seeks a mascot that is memorable, culturally neutral, easy to recognise, and adaptable across digital and traditional media. The winner will receive a first prize of ₹1,00,000, while the second-place entry will receive ₹50,000. The top ten entries will also receive Certificates of Appreciation.

About the DPDP Act Mascot Design Contest

The initiative aims to make personal data protection more accessible and understandable to citizens of different ages, backgrounds, and regions. Participants are encouraged to develop a mascot that reflects the principles and objectives of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act while having broad public appeal. The selected mascot may be used by MeitY in nationwide public awareness campaigns through multiple communication channels. What Are Participants Asked to Create?

Participants must design a mascot and suggest a name for the character

The mascot should:

- Resonate with citizens across different age groups. - Have broad appeal across regions. - Maintain cultural neutrality. - Be original and distinctive. - Be memorable and easy to recognise. - Communicate the concept of personal data protection. - Be suitable for use across multiple forms of media. The proposed name should complement the mascot and be suitable for a nationwide public awareness campaign. Prize Details The contest offers monetary prizes to the leading entries.

- First Prize: ₹1,00,000

- Second Prize: ₹50,000

- Top Ten Entries: Certificates of Appreciation

In addition to the prize, the winning mascot may receive significant public exposure if selected for use in nationwide awareness activities. Potential Use of the Winning Mascot The selected mascot may be featured in public awareness campaigns conducted through various channels.

Potential uses include:

Because of this broad potential use, participants should consider how their mascot will appear in both digital and physical formats. Design Requirements The mascot should be designed with flexibility and adaptability in mind.

Participants are expected to provide

- Colour version - Monochrome version - Multiple poses - Multiple expressions - A brief rationale explaining the design - A brief rationale explaining the proposed name The design should remain recognisable and effective when adapted for different communication formats. Originality and Memorability Originality is an important evaluation criterion. The mascot should have a distinctive visual identity rather than relying on generic or commonly used characters. At the same time, the design should be simple enough to be remembered easily by citizens and recognisable when used at different sizes and across different media. Adaptability Across Media The mascot should be suitable for a variety of applications.

Participants should consider how the character can be adapted for

- Digital communication. - Print materials. - Animation. - Merchandise. - Social media campaigns. - Television content. - Workshops and conferences. A flexible design can help ensure that the mascot remains visually consistent across different formats. Cultural Neutrality and Broad Appeal The mascot is intended for a nationwide awareness programme, making cultural neutrality particularly important. The design should appeal to citizens across different regions and age groups without relying heavily on regional, religious, linguistic, or culturally specific characteristics. The goal is to create a character that can be easily understood and accepted by a broad Indian audience. Relevance to the DPDP Act The mascot should clearly relate to the objectives of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act. Participants should ensure that the concept communicates ideas associated with personal data protection and citizens’ rights over their personal data. The accompanying rationale should explain how the mascot’s visual elements and name connect with the DPDP Act and the awareness programme.

Evaluation Criteria

Entries will be evaluated on several aspects of the proposed mascot and accompanying submission.

The key evaluation criteria include:

- Relevance to the DPDP Act - Originality - Simplicity - Adaptability - Cultural neutrality - Quality of the accompanying write-up Participants should therefore pay attention not only to the visual design but also to the explanation supporting their creative concept. Technical Submission Requirements Submissions must meet the specified technical requirements.

Accepted file formats include:

- JPEG - PNG The submission should have a minimum resolution of 300 DPI. The maximum permitted file size will be according to the MyGov portal limit. Participants should ensure that their files meet the required format, resolution, and size specifications before submission. Open or Editable Design Format The winning participant may be required to provide the mascot design in an open/editable format. The winner may also need to provide: - Font specifications. - Colour specifications. - Editable design files. Participants should therefore retain the original working files and design elements used to create their mascot. How to Develop a Strong Mascot Concept Participants should aim to create a character that communicates the importance of personal data protection quickly and clearly.

A strong concept should consider:

- Clear message: The mascot should help communicate the importance of personal data rights.

- Simple design: Avoid unnecessary complexity so the character remains recognisable.

- Original identity: Develop a distinctive character rather than a generic symbol.

- Nationwide appeal: E