Privacy Policy - DekhoCampus

Introduction

We, at DekhoCampus, having its registered office at RZ-43, Najafgarh, New Delhi - 110043, India, are committed to respecting your online privacy and recognize your need for appropriate protection and management of personally identifiable information ("Personal Information") you share with us, in line with applicable data protection laws and regulations including the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, process, transfer, share, and protect your information when you visit or use the DekhoCampus website, mobile site, applications and related services (collectively, the "Platform") or when you otherwise interact with us.

THIS PRIVACY POLICY IS AN ELECTRONIC RECORD UNDER THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACT, 2000 AND RULES MADE THEREUNDER, AND DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY PHYSICAL SIGNATURE OR SEAL.

This Policy is subject to the Terms and Conditions of DekhoCampus. By visiting the Platform or by using/availing any of our services or products, you hereby give your unconditional consent to DekhoCampus for collection, use, storage, processing, sharing, transfer and disclosure of your information as provided under Section 43A and Section 72A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THE TERMS OF THIS PRIVACY POLICY, PLEASE DO NOT ACCESS/USE OUR PLATFORM OR AVAIL ANY OF OUR SERVICES OR PRODUCTS.

1. About DekhoCampus and Purpose

DekhoCampus is an education information and guidance platform that helps students and parents:

• Discover colleges, universities, courses, exams and related information
• Understand admission processes, eligibility, fees, scholarships and placement statistics
• Connect with DekhoCampus counselors for personalized guidance
• Receive support in shortlisting institutions and tracking applications

Core Purpose: The Platform is designed to help students discover, research and apply to colleges, courses and exams of their interest. DekhoCampus also connects colleges/educational institutes with prospective students who may be of interest to them. Your contactable information will be shared with colleges/educational institutes/coaching centers when you express interest in them or when they shortlist you as a potential candidate for admission.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information about you during your usage of the Platform to provide better services. The information collected may consist of:

2.1. Personal Information

• Identity Information: Name, date of birth, gender, photograph
• Contact Information: Mobile number, email address, mailing address
• Educational Information: Academic qualifications, marks/grades, educational background, entrance exam scores, courses of interest
• Professional Information: Work experience (if applicable)
• Financial Information: Payment details (when you purchase paid services) - processed through secure third-party payment gateways
• Government IDs: For specific services (e.g., passport details for study abroad assistance, Aadhaar for verification if applicable)
• User Account Information: Username, password, profile preferences
• Communication Data: Any information you provide when you contact us via forms, emails, chat, or phone

2.2. Non-Personal Information

• Technical Data: IP address, browser type and version, device type, operating system, screen resolution
• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, search queries, application behavior
• Location Data: Approximate geographical location based on IP address or device GPS (if permitted)
• Cookies and Tracking Data: Information collected through cookies, pixel tags, web beacons and similar technologies
• Referral Source: How you arrived at our Platform (search engine, social media, direct link, etc.)

We collect this information through:

• Registration/Sign-up forms when you create an account
• Contact forms when you request information or assistance
• Application forms when you apply to colleges through our Platform
• Automated technologies such as cookies and analytics tools
• Third-party sources such as public databases, partner colleges, social media (with your consent)
• Communications you have with us via email, phone, chat, or social media

3. How We Use Your Information

DekhoCampus collects and processes your information for the following purposes:

3.1. Core Services

• To create and manage your account on the Platform
• To provide personalized college, course and exam recommendations based on your profile and preferences
• To facilitate your applications to colleges/universities and track application status
• To connect you with our counselors for admission guidance
• To share your profile with colleges/universities/coaching institutes based on your expressed interest or their requirements
• To process payments for paid services through secure payment gateways

3.2. Communication

• To respond to your queries, requests and feedback
• To send you alerts about application deadlines, entrance exams, admission notifications and results
• To send newsletters, educational content, and promotional offers (with your consent)
• To conduct surveys and feedback requests to improve our services
• To contact you via phone calls, SMS, WhatsApp messages, emails, and in-app notifications regarding colleges, courses, exams, counseling, admission assistance, scholarships, events, and other services relevant to your profile

3.3. Analytics and Improvement

• To analyze usage patterns and improve the Platform's functionality and user experience
• To conduct market research and understand student preferences
• To develop new features, products and services
• To personalize content and advertisements shown to you
• To measure the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns

3.4. Security and Legal

• To detect, prevent and investigate fraud, security breaches, and other potentially illegal activities
• To enforce our Terms and Conditions and other policies
• To comply with legal obligations, court orders, government requests, and regulatory requirements
• To establish, exercise or defend legal rights

3.5. Business Operations

• To manage our relationship with partner colleges, universities and coaching institutes
• To analyze trends and generate statistical reports (in aggregated, anonymized format)
• To facilitate business transactions such as mergers, acquisitions or asset sales (with appropriate safeguards)

4. DND/NCPR Consent and Marketing Communications

4.1. Express Consent for Communications

By submitting your contact details on the Platform (including mobile number, email address, WhatsApp number) and by accepting this Privacy Policy, you expressly consent to DekhoCampus and its authorized partners contacting you through:

• Phone calls (including automated/pre-recorded calls)
• SMS / text messages (including promotional SMS)
• WhatsApp messages
• Emails
• In-app notifications and push notifications
• Any other communication channels (existing or future)

in relation to colleges, courses, exams, counseling, admission assistance, scholarships, events, and other educational services or updates relevant to your profile and interests.

4.2. DND/NCPR Override Consent

You understand and agree that this consent may apply even if your mobile number is registered on the Do Not Disturb (DND/NCPR) registry maintained by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). This consent is provided as per TRAI regulations, and DekhoCampus will maintain appropriate consent records in accordance with the Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) framework and TRAI guidelines.

This consent will remain valid for a period of 365 days (one year) from the date of registration or until withdrawn by you.

4.3. Opt-Out Rights

You have the right to opt out of promotional communications at any time by:

• Clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any promotional email
• Replying "STOP" to promotional SMS messages
• Adjusting your communication preferences in your account settings
• Writing to us at support@dekhocampus.com

Please note that even after opting out of promotional communications, we may still send you transactional or service-related communications (such as application status updates, counseling session reminders, account security alerts, and legally required notices).

5. Sharing of Information

5.1. With Educational Institutions

We may share your personal information (including name, contact details, educational background, and application materials) with:

• Colleges, universities, and educational institutions you have shown interest in or applied to
• Colleges, universities, and coaching institutes that have shortlisted you as a potential candidate
• Educational institutions with whom we have partnerships for admission assistance

These institutions may use your information to:

• Evaluate your application for admission
• Contact you regarding admission processes, eligibility, and offers
• Conduct further marketing and recruitment activities

Important: How these institutions use your information is governed by their own privacy policies, not ours. We encourage you to review their privacy policies. We are not responsible for their data practices.

5.2. With Service Providers

We may share your information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating the Platform and providing services, including:

• Payment processors and gateways (for processing transactions)
• Communication service providers (for sending emails, SMS, and WhatsApp messages)
• Cloud hosting providers (for data storage and computing services)
• Analytics providers (such as Google Analytics, for understanding Platform usage)
• Customer support tools (for managing queries and tickets)
• Marketing platforms (for running campaigns and advertisements)

These service providers are bound by confidentiality agreements and are obligated to use your information only for the purposes we specify and to protect it with appropriate security measures.

5.3. With Authorized Partners

We may share your information with:

• Counseling partners who provide admission guidance on our behalf
• Content partners who help create educational content
• Event partners for education fairs, webinars, and workshops

5.4. For Legal and Safety Reasons

We may disclose your information when required or permitted by law:

• To comply with legal obligations, court orders, subpoenas, or government requests
• To law enforcement agencies or regulatory authorities as mandated under applicable laws
• To establish, exercise or defend legal rights in legal proceedings
• To protect the rights, property, or safety of DekhoCampus, our users, or the public
• To investigate and prevent fraud, security breaches, or other illegal activities

5.5. Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, asset sale, or similar business transaction, your information may be transferred to the acquiring or successor entity, subject to appropriate safeguards and notification to you.

5.6. With Your Consent

We may share your information with other third parties when you explicitly consent to such sharing.

5.7. Anonymized and Aggregated Data

We may share anonymized, aggregated, or de-identified data (which cannot identify you personally) with third parties for research, analytics, marketing, or other business purposes. This data does not constitute Personal Information.

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

6.1. What are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, smartphone, or tablet) when you visit a website. Cookies help us recognize your device, remember your preferences, understand your usage patterns, and provide a better user experience.

6.2. Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: Required for the Platform to function properly (e.g., session management, security)
• Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings (e.g., language, location)
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how users interact with the Platform (e.g., Google Analytics, page views, bounce rates)
• Advertising Cookies: Used to display relevant advertisements and measure ad campaign effectiveness (e.g., Google Ads, Facebook Pixel)

6.3. Third-Party Cookies

We use third-party analytics and advertising services (such as Google Analytics, Google Ads, Facebook Pixel, LinkedIn Insight Tag) that may place cookies on your device. These third parties have their own privacy policies governing their use of your information.

6.4. Managing Cookies

Most browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can:

• Block all cookies
• Accept only certain cookies
• Delete cookies after your session

Please note: Blocking or deleting cookies may affect the functionality of the Platform and limit your ability to use certain features.

6.5. Other Tracking Technologies

We also use:

• Pixel tags / web beacons: Small image files embedded in web pages or emails to track user behavior
• Device fingerprinting: Collecting device attributes to recognize devices across sessions
• Conversion pixels: To track user actions on our lead collection forms

7. Data Security

7.1. Security Measures

DekhoCampus takes the security of your Personal Information seriously. We implement appropriate technical, organizational, and physical security measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction, including:

• Encryption: Data transmitted between your device and our servers is encrypted using SSL/TLS protocols
• Access controls: Access to personal information is restricted to authorized personnel only on a need-to-know basis
• Secure servers: Data is stored on secure servers with firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and regular security updates
• Password protection: User accounts are protected by passwords; we encourage you to use strong, unique passwords
• Regular security audits: We conduct periodic security assessments and vulnerability testing
• Employee training: Our employees are trained on data protection and security best practices

7.2. Limitations

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your information.

You acknowledge that:

• Internet and computer networks are not fully secure
• You share information with us at your own risk
• You will not hold DekhoCampus liable for any loss or damage to your information caused by events beyond our reasonable control (Force Majeure events), including but not limited to hacking, unauthorized access, cyberattacks, natural disasters, acts of government, or technical failures

7.3. Your Responsibility

You are responsible for:

• Keeping your account credentials (username and password) confidential
• Notifying us immediately at support@dekhocampus.com if you suspect unauthorized access to your account
• Using secure devices and networks when accessing the Platform

8. Data Retention

8.1. Retention Period

We retain your Personal Information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including:

• For the duration of your active use of the Platform
• To comply with legal, regulatory, tax, accounting, or reporting obligations
• To establish, exercise, or defend legal claims
• For resolving disputes and enforcing our agreements

8.2. Retention Criteria

The retention period depends on:

• The nature and sensitivity of the information
• The purposes for which it was collected
• Legal and regulatory requirements (e.g., tax records, financial transactions)
• Legitimate business needs

8.3. Deletion

Once the retention period expires, we will:

• Delete your Personal Information securely
• Anonymize or de-identify it so that it can no longer be associated with you
• Archive it in accordance with applicable legal requirements

You may request deletion of your account and Personal Information at any time by contacting us at support@dekhocampus.com, subject to applicable legal and contractual obligations.

9. Your Rights and Choices

9.1. Access and Correction

You have the right to:

• Access the Personal Information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Update your account information through your account settings

9.2. Data Portability

You may request a copy of your Personal Information in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.

9.3. Deletion / Erasure

You may request deletion of your Personal Information, subject to:

• Our legal, regulatory, and contractual obligations (e.g., maintaining records for tax purposes)
• Legitimate business needs (e.g., resolving disputes, enforcing agreements)

9.4. Restriction of Processing

You may request that we restrict the processing of your Personal Information in certain circumstances (e.g., while we verify the accuracy of disputed information).

9.5. Objection to Processing

You may object to certain types of processing (e.g., direct marketing) at any time.

9.6. Withdrawal of Consent

Where processing is based on your consent, you have the right to withdraw consent at any time. Withdrawal will not affect the lawfulness of processing before withdrawal.

9.7. Opt-Out of Marketing

You may opt out of receiving promotional communications by following the opt-out instructions in emails/SMS or contacting us at support@dekhocampus.com.

9.8. How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at:

Email: support@dekhocampus.com
Subject Line: "Privacy Rights Request - [Your Name]"

Please provide sufficient information to enable us to verify your identity and locate your information. We will respond to your request within 30 days (or as required by applicable law).

10. Children's Privacy

10.1. Age Requirement

The Platform is not intended for use by children under the age of 13 years. We do not knowingly collect Personal Information from children under 13 without verifiable parental or guardian consent.

10.2. Parental Consent

If you are under 18 years of age (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction), you must use the Platform under the supervision of your parent, legal guardian, or responsible adult. By using the Platform, your parent/guardian represents that they have reviewed and agreed to this Privacy Policy on your behalf.

10.3. Accidental Collection

If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected Personal Information from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information as soon as possible.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided us with Personal Information without your consent, please contact us immediately at support@dekhocampus.com.

11. Third-Party Links and Services

11.1. External Links

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites, applications, or services (such as college websites, government portals, social media platforms, or partner sites).

We are not responsible for:

• The privacy practices of these third-party sites
• The content or accuracy of information on third-party sites
• Any transactions, dealings, or disputes between you and third parties

11.2. Recommendation

We recommend that you review the privacy policies of any third-party websites or services before providing them with your Personal Information or engaging with their content.

11.3. Social Media Integration

If you interact with us through social media platforms (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) or use social media login features, those platforms may collect information about you according to their own privacy policies. We may receive certain information from these platforms as permitted by their terms.

12. International Data Transfers

12.1. Storage Location

Your Personal Information will primarily be stored and processed within the Republic of India. However, we may store, process, or transfer your information to locations outside India (including cloud servers, third-party service providers, or partner institutions) subject to compliance with applicable laws.

12.2. Safeguards

When we transfer your information outside India, we rely on legally provided mechanisms and ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place, such as:

• Standard contractual clauses or data transfer agreements
• Ensuring recipients maintain security standards comparable to Indian law
• Obtaining your explicit consent where required

13. Compliance with Indian Laws

DekhoCampus complies with applicable Indian laws and regulations, including:

• Information Technology Act, 2000 and rules made thereunder (including the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011)
• Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act) and rules made thereunder
• Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) regulations regarding DND/NCPR
• Consumer Protection Act, 2019
• Indian Contract Act, 1872

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of India. Any disputes arising out of this Privacy Policy shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts at New Delhi, India.

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

14.1. Right to Modify

DekhoCampus reserves the right to update, change, or modify this Privacy Policy at any time, as and when the need arises. Any changes will be effective upon posting the revised Privacy Policy on the Platform with an updated "Last updated" date.

14.2. Notification

We may (but are not obligated to) notify you of material changes via:

• A prominent notice on the Platform
• Email to your registered email address
• In-app notification

14.3. Continued Use

Your continued use of the Platform after any changes to this Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

15. Grievance Redressal and Contact Information

15.1. Contact DekhoCampus

For any questions, concerns, feedback, or complaints regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, you may contact us at:

DekhoCampus
Email: support@dekhocampus.com
Address: RZ-43, Najafgarh, New Delhi - 110043, India
Website: www.dekhocampus.com

15.2. Grievance Officer

In accordance with the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, we have designated a Grievance Officer to address your privacy concerns and grievances.

Grievance Officer Details:
Name: Chetan Garg
Email: grievance@dekhocampus.com
Address: RZ-43, Najafgarh, New Delhi - 110043, India

15.3. Grievance Redressal Process

• The Grievance Officer will acknowledge your complaint within 48 hours of receipt
• Your complaint will be resolved within 15 days from the date of receipt (or such other timeframe as may be prescribed under applicable law)
• If you are not satisfied with the resolution, you may escalate the matter to the appropriate regulatory authority

15.4. Working Hours

Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM IST (excluding public holidays)

16. Acknowledgment and Consent

By accessing or using the DekhoCampus Platform, registering for an account, or clicking "I Accept" on any consent form, you acknowledge that:

• You have read and understood this Privacy Policy in full
• You agree to the collection, use, storage, processing, sharing, and transfer of your Personal Information as described in this Privacy Policy
• You consent to receive communications from DekhoCampus and its partners as described in Section 4
• You consent to the sharing of your information with educational institutions and service providers as described in Section 5
• You understand your rights and how to exercise them as described in Section 9
• If you are under 18, your parent/guardian has reviewed and agreed to this Privacy Policy on your behalf
• You provide this consent freely, voluntarily, and with full knowledge of the implications

If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, please do not use the Platform or provide us with any Personal Information.

17. Disclaimer

17.1. No Guarantee of Absolute Security

While we implement industry-standard security measures, we do not guarantee absolute security of your information against unauthorized access, hacking, data breaches, or Force Majeure events. Use of the Platform is at your own risk.

17.2. Third-Party Actions

We are not responsible for:

• How colleges, universities, or partner institutions use your information after we share it with them
• Privacy practices of third-party websites, apps, or services linked from our Platform
• Any unauthorized disclosure of information due to factors beyond our control

17.3. Accuracy of Information

We strive to maintain accurate information but do not guarantee that all information on the Platform (including college details, course information, or exam data) is complete, accurate, or up-to-date. You should verify critical information from official sources.