This paper critically examines India’s draft Digital Personal Data Protection Rules 2025, with a particular focus on the protection of children’s personal data. It explores the evolution from earlier legislative frameworks, evaluates the significant changes introduced by the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, and scrutinises the operational, technical and policy-level challenges associated with the implementation of the Draft Rules 2025. Through a comparative approach with global best practices, notably the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the paper identifies gaps, discusses practical implications for businesses, particularly startups, and proposes clear, actionable recommendations for compliance. The analysis aims to provide meaningful insights for policy makers, industry stakeholders and practitioners navigating the complexities of enhanced data protection regulations. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.