With the rapid increase in online interactions, concerns over data privacy and transparency of data processing practices have become more pronounced. While regulations like the GDPR have driven the widespread adoption of cookie banners in the EU, India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) promises similar changes domestically, aiming to introduce a framework for data protection. However, certain clauses within the DPDPA raise concerns about potential infringements on user privacy, given the exemptions for government accountability and user consent requirements. In this study, for the first time, we explore Indian Internet users' awareness and perceptions of cookie banners, online privacy, and privacy regulations, especially in light of the newly passed DPDPA. We conducted an online anonymous survey with 428 Indian participants, which addressed: (1) users' perspectives on cookie banners, (2) their attitudes towards online privacy and privacy regulations, and (3) their acceptance of 10 contentious DPDPA clauses that favor state authorities and may enable surveillance. Our findings reveal that privacy-conscious users often lack consistent awareness of privacy mechanisms, and their concerns do not always lead to protective actions. Our thematic analysis of 143 open ended responses shows that users' privacy and data protection concerns are rooted in skepticism towards the government, shaping their perceptions of the DPDPA and fueling demands for policy revisions. Our study highlights the need for clearer communication regarding the DPDPA, user-centric consent mechanisms, and policy refinements to enhance data privacy practices in India.

翻译：随着在线互动的迅速增加，对数据处理实践的透明度及数据隐私的担忧日益凸显。尽管《通用数据保护条例》等法规推动了欧盟境内Cookie横幅的广泛采用，而印度《数字个人数据保护法》承诺在国内带来类似变革，旨在建立数据保护框架。然而，鉴于该法案中关于政府问责豁免及用户同意要求的相关条款，其部分规定引发了对潜在侵犯用户隐私的担忧。本研究首次基于新颁布的《数字个人数据保护法》，探究印度互联网用户对Cookie横幅、在线隐私及隐私法规的认知与态度。我们通过对428名印度参与者开展匿名在线调查，重点探讨：（1）用户对Cookie横幅的认知视角；（2）其对在线隐私及隐私法规的态度；（3）对10项有利于国家机构且可能助长监控的争议性法案条款的接受度。研究发现：具有隐私意识的用户往往对隐私机制缺乏持续认知，其担忧并不总能转化为保护性行为。通过对143份开放式回答的专题分析发现，用户对隐私与数据保护的关切根植于对政府的不信任，这种态度既塑造了其对《数字个人数据保护法》的认知，也催生了政策修订诉求。本研究强调，印度需通过更清晰的法案解读、以用户为中心的同意机制及政策优化，以提升数据隐私保护实践水平。