Privacy Policy for SeshtaConnect

Welcome to SeshtaConnect!

Effective Date: 12/10/2025

At SeshtaConnect (referred to as "we," "us," or "our"), the privacy of our professional community is our highest priority. This Privacy Policy outlines the types of information we collect, how we use it, how we secure it, and your rights concerning your personal data.

SeshtaConnect is operated by [Your Company Name, e.g., Seshta Fussion Foods & Beverages Private Limited] in a joint venture with [List all four partner organizations].

1. Consent and Agreement

By accessing, browsing, or registering on the SeshtaConnect website or mobile application (the "Platform"), you hereby consent to this Privacy Policy and agree to its terms. This policy is an integral part of our Terms of Service.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information to provide and enhance our professional networking, verification, and content services across the News, Health, and Business sectors.

A. Information You Directly Provide (Personal Data)

Category	Examples of Data Collected	Purpose of Collection
Identity & Contact Data	Full Name, Email Address, Phone Number, Date of Birth.	Account creation, verification, direct communication, and fraud prevention.
Professional Profile Data	Company Name, Job Title, Industry (News, Health, Business), Professional Qualifications/Certifications, Resume/CV, Profile Picture.	Building your verified professional identity on the Platform and facilitating relevant connections.
Sensitive Personal Data (as per Indian IT Rules, 2011)	Financial Information (e.g., bank account details for official payment/disbursement to Partners/Experts - only if applicable), Health-related details (e.g., if you participate in specific Health vertical professional programs or surveys where this is required).	Processing payments, managing professional services, and ensuring eligibility for certain content/programs. We will obtain explicit, separate consent before collecting any sensitive personal data.
User-Generated Content	Posts, articles, comments, forum discussions, messages, testimonials, and content used for professional courses or certifications.	Displaying your professional activity on the Platform and facilitating community engagement.
Merits System Data	Points/Merits earned, usage history of Merits, participation in governance voting.	Tracking your contribution to the Platform and managing the internal reward/governance system.

B. Information We Collect Automatically

Category	Examples of Data Collected	Purpose of Collection
Usage & Device Data	IP Address, Browser Type, Operating System, Device IDs, Time Zone Setting, Referring/Exit Pages.	Analyzing Platform usage, improving functionality, and maintaining security.
Log Files	Log files track visitors' actions on the site, including ISP, date/time stamp, and number of clicks.	Analyzing trends, administering the site, and gathering demographic information (standard industry practice).
Cookies and Tracking Technologies	We use 'cookies' to store information, including visitors' preferences, and the pages visited.	Optimizing user experience, authenticating users, and for targeted advertising (where applicable, with explicit consent).

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following specified purposes:

Purpose Category	Description
Service Provision & Maintenance	To provide, operate, and maintain the Platform, including account management and content delivery in the News, Health, and Business verticals.
Personalization & Improvement	To improve, personalize, and expand the Platform by analyzing usage patterns, and developing new products, features, and functionalities.
Verification and Trust	To verify your professional identity and credentials, ensuring the integrity and high-trust nature of the SeshtaConnect community.
Communication	To communicate with you directly or through our partners, including for customer support, service updates, policy changes, and official announcements.
Joint Venture Operations	To share necessary information with our Joint Venture Partners ([List all four partner organizations]) for the purpose of cross-platform certification, content co-creation, and operational support, only as outlined in this policy.
Security & Legal Compliance	To detect, prevent, and address fraud, security breaches, or illegal activities, and to comply with legal obligations, including responding to court orders, government requests, or regulatory mandates in India and elsewhere.
Marketing & Promotions	To send you promotional emails, newsletters, and marketing materials related to our services and those of our trusted partners (you can opt-out at any time).

4. Disclosure and Sharing of Your Personal Data

We only disclose your Personal Data in the following limited circumstances:

With Your Explicit Consent: For any purpose not covered in this policy, we will seek your clear, affirmative consent before sharing.
With Joint Venture Partners: We share data necessary to fulfill the services provided by our co-founders (Seshta Fussion Foods & Beverages, Aryavartha Media Network, Kriyasha Foundation, and Netighalam Ngtv) for purposes like credential verification, training programs, and content distribution. All partners are bound by confidentiality agreements consistent with this policy.
With Service Providers: We engage trusted third-party companies and individuals to facilitate our services (e.g., hosting, payment processing, data analytics). These third parties are authorized to use your Personal Data only as necessary to provide these services to us and are subject to strict data protection obligations.
For Legal Purposes: When we are legally required to do so by applicable law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request, including compliance with the Information Technology Act, 2000, or the DPDP Act.
Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, your Personal Data may be transferred. We will provide notice before your Personal Data is transferred and becomes subject to a different Privacy Policy.

5. Security and Data Retention

Security Measures: We employ reasonable physical, administrative, and technical safeguards, including encryption and access control mechanisms, to protect your Personal Data from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction, in compliance with the Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures as defined under Indian law.
Data Retention: We retain your Personal Data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law (e.g., for legal, accounting, or reporting requirements).

6. Your Data Protection Rights (India and Global)

In line with global standards (like the principles of the DPDP Act) and existing Indian regulations, every user has the following rights:

Right to Access: You have the right to request copies of the personal data we hold about you.
Right to Rectification: You have the right to request that we correct any information you believe is inaccurate or complete information you believe is incomplete.
Right to Erasure/Deletion: You have the right to request that we erase your personal data, under certain conditions (e.g., withdrawal of consent).
Right to Restrict Processing: You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal data, under certain conditions.
Right to Object to Processing: You have the right to object to our processing of your personal data, under certain conditions (e.g., for direct marketing).
Right to Data Portability: You have the right to request that we transfer the data that we have collected to another organization, or directly to you, under certain conditions.
Right to Withdraw Consent: You have the right to withdraw your consent to the processing of your data at any time.

If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you. To exercise any of these rights, please contact our Grievance Officer using the contact information provided below.

7. Children's Information

SeshtaConnect is a professional networking platform and is not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect Personal Identifiable Information from children under 18. If you believe your child has provided this kind of information on our Platform, please contact our Grievance Officer immediately, and we will take reasonable steps to promptly remove such information.

8. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Effective Date" at the top. We will also notify you via email or a prominent notice on our Platform prior to the change becoming effective.

9. Contact Us and Grievance Redressal

In accordance with the Information Technology Act, 2000 and rules made thereunder, including the forthcoming DPDP Act, we have designated a Grievance Officer to address any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy and the processing of your Personal Data.

Grievance Officer:

Name: [Insert Name of Grievance Officer]
Email: [Insert Dedicated Grievance Officer Email]
Address: [Insert Registered Company Address in India]
Phone (Working Hours): [Insert Contact Number]

For all other general privacy questions or to exercise your data rights, please contact:

General Support Email: [Insert General Support Email]