1. Scope and Agreement

This Privacy Policy applies to all personal data processed by EduSeeker through its desktop application, web application, website, mobile application (Android), and any surveys or communications conducted by us. It does not apply to third-party websites or services accessible through links on our platform.

Your continued use of our Services constitutes acceptance of this Policy. If you access the Services on behalf of a company or other legal entity, you represent that you have authority to bind that entity, and references to "you" include that entity.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Account Information

When you register, we collect personally identifiable information including your name, email address, mobile number, and profession. This information is necessary to create and manage your account.

2.2 Service Usage Data

We collect information about how you interact with our platform, including pages visited, features used, search queries, service enrolments, consultant interactions, documents uploaded, and activity timestamps. This data is used to improve platform functionality and personalise your experience.

2.3 Payment Information

Website and web application purchases are processed securely through Razorpay. Android mobile application purchases are processed through Google Play In-App Billing. EduSeeker does not store your card details, UPI credentials, or bank account information. Payment data is handled entirely by the respective payment processors and is subject to their privacy policies.

2.4 Mobile Application Data

When you use our Android mobile application, we may additionally collect your device model, operating system version, unique device identifiers (such as Android Advertising ID), push notification tokens, app version, and crash/error logs. This information is used to ensure app stability, deliver push notifications, and improve the mobile experience.

2.5 Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies — small data files placed on your device — to maintain your session, remember your preferences, and analyse usage. You may configure your browser to refuse cookies; however, some features may not function correctly without them. We use the following types:

• Essential cookies: Required for core functionality such as authentication and session management.
• Analytical cookies: Used to understand usage patterns (e.g. Google Analytics — anonymised).
• Functional cookies: Used to remember your preferences and settings.

2.6 Web Beacons

Certain pages and emails may contain web beacons (clear GIFs or pixel tags) that help us determine whether content has been accessed or emails have been opened. This data is used for analytics and service improvement.

3. How We Use Your Personal Data

The Company processes your personal data for the following purposes:

• Account management: To create, maintain, and provide access to your account and platform functionalities.
• Service delivery: To match you with a consultant, track guidance service progress, process payments, and fulfil purchased services.
• Communications: To send service updates, activity notifications, push notifications (mobile), security alerts, and responses to your enquiries.
• Marketing (with consent): To send news, offers, and information about similar services where you have not opted out.
• Analytics and improvement: To analyse usage trends, measure campaign effectiveness, and improve our Services.
• Legal compliance: To comply with applicable laws, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements and policies.
• Business transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your data may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to confidentiality obligations.

4. Sharing of Your Personal Data

We may share your personal information only in the following limited circumstances:

• Assigned consultants: We share relevant profile and service requirement information with the consultant assigned to your service. Consultants are bound by confidentiality obligations.
• Payment processors: Razorpay (web/website) and Google LLC (Android in-app purchases) receive payment information solely to process transactions.
• Analytics providers: We share anonymised usage data with analytics providers (e.g. Google Analytics) to understand platform usage.
• Service providers: We may share data with vetted third-party vendors who assist in operating our platform (e.g. cloud hosting, email delivery), under strict data processing agreements.
• Business transfers: In connection with a merger, divestiture, or acquisition, personal data may be transferred to the acquiring entity.
• With your consent: We may share your information for any other purpose with your explicit prior consent.
• To comply with law: We may disclose information when required by law, court order, or government authority.

5. Retention of Your Personal Data

We retain your personal data for as long as your account is active or as necessary to provide our Services, comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Specifically:

• Account data: Retained for the duration of your account and for two (2) years after account closure.
• Service records and activity history: Retained for five (5) years for quality assurance, dispute resolution, and regulatory compliance.
• Usage and analytical data: Generally retained for up to thirteen (13) months in identifiable form, after which it is anonymised.
• Payment records: Retained as required by applicable tax and financial regulations (typically seven years).

6. Transfer of Your Personal Data

Your personal data is primarily stored and processed in India. In some cases, our service providers (such as cloud infrastructure partners) may process data in other jurisdictions. Where such transfers occur, we ensure adequate safeguards are in place, including contractual protections, to ensure your data is treated with the same level of protection as required under Indian law.

7. Your Rights as a Data Principal (DPDPA 2023)

Under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and associated regulations, you have the following rights:

• Right to information: Request a summary of the personal data we hold about you and the purposes for which it is processed.
• Right to correction and erasure: Request correction of inaccurate or outdated personal data, or erasure of data no longer necessary.
• Right to grievance redressal: Raise a complaint with our Grievance Officer (see Section 11). Complaints will be acknowledged within 48 hours and resolved within 30 days.
• Right to nomination: Nominate another individual to exercise your rights on your behalf in the event of your death or incapacity.
• Right to withdraw consent: Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw at any time without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing.

To exercise any of the above rights, please contact us at support@eduseeker.in. We may require identity verification before processing your request.

8. Deletion of Your Personal Data

You may request deletion of your personal data by contacting us at support@eduseeker.in or by navigating to Account Settings > Delete Account within the platform. Upon a valid deletion request, identifiable data will be erased or anonymised within thirty (30) days, except where retention is legally mandated.

9. Children's Privacy

In compliance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (India), EduSeeker does not knowingly process the personal data of individuals under the age of 18 without verifiable parental or guardian consent. Our Services are not directed at children under 18.

If we become aware that we have collected personal data from a child under 18 without appropriate consent, we will take prompt steps to delete such data. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal data without consent, please contact us at support@eduseeker.in.

10. Security

We implement industry-standard technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include HTTPS encryption for all data in transit, access controls, regular security audits, and secure storage practices. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure. We encourage you to use a strong password and notify us immediately if you suspect any unauthorised access to your account.

11. Grievance Officer

• Name: Grievance Officer — EduSeeker
• Email: support@eduseeker.in
• Address: EduSeeker, India

Complaints will be acknowledged within 48 hours and resolved within 30 days of receipt.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. We will notify you of material changes via email and/or a prominent notice on our platform at least 7 days before the changes take effect. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page will be revised accordingly. Continued use of the Services after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated Policy.

13. Contact Us

• Email: support@eduseeker.in
• General Support: support@eduseeker.in
• Address: EduSeeker, India

1. Our Services

EduSeeker is an online EdTech platform specialising in coaching and guidance services for political science examinations, including CUET PG, UGC JRF-NET, SET, CUET PhD, and Assistant Professor Examinations. Our Services include, but are not limited to:

• Topic Finder: Consultant-assisted research topic selection and resource delivery.
• Proposal Builder: Guided research proposal drafting with consultant feedback.
• Proposal Review: Expert review of existing research proposals.
• Interview Preparation: Structured mock interview sessions with qualified consultants.
• Online video lectures, study materials, and community forums.

The Services are available to users in India and accessible globally. Users outside India who access the Services do so at their own initiative and are responsible for compliance with applicable local laws.

2. Intellectual Property Rights

2.1 Our Intellectual Property

All content available through the Services, including source code, databases, software, website designs, audio, video, text, photographs, graphics, trademarks, and logos (collectively, "Content" and "Marks"), is owned by or licensed to EduSeeker and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws. The Content is provided for your personal, non-commercial use only.

2.2 Licence to Use the Services

Subject to compliance with these Terms, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable licence to access and use the Services for personal, non-commercial purposes. You may not copy, reproduce, republish, upload, transmit, sell, or exploit any Content or Marks without our express prior written permission. Requests for commercial use should be directed to support@eduseeker.in.

2.3 Your Submissions and Contributions

By submitting feedback, suggestions, or any other content to us ("Submissions"), you assign all intellectual property rights in such Submissions to EduSeeker. We may use Submissions without restriction or compensation. For content contributed through public features of the platform ("Contributions"), you grant EduSeeker a worldwide, irrevocable, royalty-free licence to use, reproduce, distribute, and display such Contributions for any lawful purpose. You are solely responsible for the accuracy and legality of your Contributions.

2.4 Copyright Infringement

If you believe any content on our platform infringes your copyright, please notify us at support@eduseeker.in with details of the infringing material, your contact information, and a statement of your ownership claim. We will investigate and take appropriate action.

3. User Representations

By using the Services, you represent and warrant that: (a) all registration information you provide is true, accurate, and current; (b) you will maintain the accuracy of your information; (c) you have the legal capacity to agree to these Terms; (d) you are at least 18 years of age, or between 13 and 17 with verifiable parental consent; (e) you will not access the Services through automated means without our permission; (f) you will not use the Services for any unlawful purpose; and (g) your use of the Services does not violate applicable law. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that provide false, inaccurate, or misleading information.

4. User Registration

To access certain features of the Services, you must register for an account. You agree to keep your login credentials confidential and are responsible for all activity under your account. You must notify us immediately at support@eduseeker.in if you suspect unauthorised access. We reserve the right to remove or change usernames we determine to be inappropriate or objectionable.

5. Availability of Services

All services are subject to availability. We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any service at any time with or without notice. Service descriptions and pricing are subject to change. We will make reasonable efforts to communicate material changes in advance.

6. Purchases and Payment

6.1 Website and Web Application (Razorpay)

Purchases made through the EduSeeker website and web application are processed via Razorpay, a PCI-DSS-compliant payment gateway. We accept payments in Indian Rupees (INR) via credit/debit cards, UPI, net banking, and other methods offered by Razorpay. You agree to provide accurate and complete payment information. Applicable taxes will be added as required. We reserve the right to correct pricing errors.

6.2 Android Mobile Application (Google Play In-App Billing)

Purchases made within the EduSeeker Android mobile application are processed exclusively through Google Play In-App Billing. By making a purchase in the app, you agree to Google Play's Terms of Service in addition to these Terms. Payment amounts, currencies, and methods are governed by Google Play policies. EduSeeker does not independently process or store payment credentials for in-app purchases.

7. Refund and Cancellation Policy

Our Refund and Cancellation Policy is set out in full in the separate section of this document, which forms part of these Terms. Please note that refunds for Guidance Services are subject to the service progress at the time of the cancellation request. Refunds for Android in-app purchases are initially governed by Google Play's refund policy and our service-level process thereafter.

8. Prohibited Activities

You may not use the Services for any purpose other than those for which they are made available. Specifically, you agree not to:

• Systematically retrieve data to compile a database or directory without written permission.
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of the platform, other user accounts, or connected systems.
• Circumvent, disable, or interfere with security or access-control features of the Services.
• Upload or transmit viruses, malware, spyware, or any code that interferes with the platform's operation.
• Use automated tools (bots, scrapers, scripts) to access the Services without authorisation.
• Engage in data mining, harvesting of user information, or unsolicited communications.
• Impersonate another user, person, or entity.
• Submit false reports of abuse or misconduct to our support team.
• Post content that is illegal, defamatory, harassing, discriminatory, obscene, or otherwise objectionable.
• Attempt to reverse engineer or extract source code from any part of the platform.
• Use the platform in any way that violates applicable Indian law or the laws of the user's jurisdiction.

9. User Generated Contributions

Where the Services permit you to post, upload, or share content ("Contributions"), you represent and warrant that: your Contributions are original or you have the rights to share them; they do not infringe any third-party intellectual property rights; they are not defamatory, harassing, obscene, or otherwise unlawful; and they comply with these Terms and all applicable laws. We reserve the right to remove Contributions that violate these Terms without notice.

10. Contribution Licence

By posting Contributions, you grant EduSeeker a worldwide, irrevocable, royalty-free, perpetual licence to use, reproduce, modify, distribute, display, and sublicense your Contributions for any lawful purpose. You retain ownership of your Contributions and are solely responsible for their content. We may remove or edit Contributions at our discretion.

11. Privacy Policy

Your use of the Services is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. The Services are hosted in India. By using the Services from outside India, you consent to the transfer and processing of your data in India in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable Indian law.

12. Term and Termination

These Terms remain in effect while you use the Services. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account and access to the Services, without notice or liability, for any breach of these Terms, applicable law, or for any other reason at our sole discretion. Upon termination, your right to use the Services ceases immediately. Provisions that by their nature should survive termination (including intellectual property, disclaimer, limitation of liability, and dispute resolution) shall survive.

13. Modifications and Interruptions

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the Services at any time without notice. We will not be liable for any service interruption, downtime, or modification. We may perform maintenance that temporarily restricts access and will endeavour to provide advance notice where practicable.

14. Dispute Resolution

14.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of India. Both parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of India for any dispute not subject to arbitration.

14.2 Arbitration

Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms or the Services that cannot be resolved amicably within 30 days of written notice shall be referred to binding arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (India). The arbitration shall be conducted by a sole arbitrator mutually agreed upon by the parties. The seat of arbitration shall be Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. The language of arbitration shall be English. The arbitral award shall be final and binding.

14.3 Exceptions to Arbitration

The following matters are not subject to arbitration and may be brought before a court of competent jurisdiction: (a) disputes involving intellectual property infringement; (b) claims for injunctive or other equitable relief; and (c) claims arising from alleged theft, fraud, or invasion of privacy.

15. Disclaimer

THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR FREE OF HARMFUL COMPONENTS. YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK.

16. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EDUSEEKER AND ITS DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, OR GOODWILL, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES. OUR TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY CLAIM SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT PAID BY YOU TO US IN THE ONE (1) MONTH PERIOD PRECEDING THE CLAIM.

17. Electronic Communications

By using the Services, you consent to receive electronic communications from us, including emails, push notifications (mobile), and in-app messages. Such communications satisfy any legal requirement that notices be provided in writing.

18. Miscellaneous

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and Refund & Cancellation Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and EduSeeker. Our failure to enforce any right does not waive that right. If any provision is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full force. We may assign our rights under these Terms without restriction. No joint venture, partnership, or agency relationship is created by your use of the Services.

19. Contact Us

• Email: support@eduseeker.in
• Address: EduSeeker, India

For legal notices, please send a copy to support@eduseeker.in with the subject line "Legal Notice".

1. Course and Video Content Purchases

Refunds for standalone video course or lecture purchases are issued only in the following circumstances:

• You have not accessed or streamed any content from the purchased course.
• The content is materially different from its published description and we are unable to rectify this within 5 business days.
• A verified technical fault prevented access and remained unresolved for more than 5 days after reporting.

Requests must be submitted within 7 days of purchase to support@eduseeker.in.

2. Non-Refundable Items

The following are not eligible for refund under any circumstances:

• Services where the consultant has delivered any portion of the agreed work.
• Completed services (status: Completed).
• Purchases made more than 30 days prior to the refund request (except where a legal obligation applies).
• Duplicate purchase refunds where the duplicate is your error and access has been granted.

3. How to Request a Refund

To initiate a refund request, email support@eduseeker.in with the following information:

• Your full name
• Email address associated with your EduSeeker account
• Order ID or transaction reference (from your confirmation email)
• Date of purchase
• Service purchased
• Reason for the refund request

Our support team will acknowledge your request within 2 business days and communicate the outcome within 7 business days of receipt of all required information.

4. Refund Processing Timelines

• Website purchases (Razorpay): 5 to 7 business days to original payment method after approval.

5. Changes to This Policy

We reserve the right to modify this Refund & Cancellation Policy at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. Material changes will be communicated via email. Continued use of the Services after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy.

6. Contact Us

• Refund Requests: support@eduseeker.in
• General Support: support@eduseeker.in

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device (computer, tablet, or phone) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work efficiently, remember your preferences, and provide information to website owners.

Cookies cannot run programmes or carry viruses. They are simply data files that help improve your experience on our platform.

2. Cookies We Use

The following cookies are used on the Edu Seeker platform:

3. How to Control Cookies

You can control and manage cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:

• View what cookies are stored on your device and delete them individually or in bulk.
• Block third-party cookies.
• Block cookies from specific websites.
• Block all cookies from being set.
• Delete all cookies when you close your browser.

For browser-specific instructions, visit:

• Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
• Mozilla Firefox: Preferences → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
• Apple Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
• Microsoft Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions

4. Third-Party Cookies

Some cookies on our platform are set by trusted third-party services we use:

• Google Analytics: Helps us understand aggregate traffic and behaviour patterns. Google may use data collected through these cookies in accordance with their own privacy policy. We have configured Google Analytics to anonymise IP addresses.
• Razorpay: Sets cookies necessary for secure payment processing on our checkout pages. These cookies are governed by Razorpay's own cookie and privacy policy.

We do not use cookies for advertising, retargeting, or selling data to ad networks.

5. Changes to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy as our use of cookies changes or as required by applicable law. Any changes will be reflected on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

6. Contact

For questions about our use of cookies, email support@eduseeker.in.