Privacy Policy for Hashtag Kalakar

Last Updated: January 2025

Welcome to Hashtag Kalakar!

Your privacy and trust are very important to us. This Privacy Policy explains how Hashtag Kalakar (“we”, “our”, “us”, or “the Company”) collects, uses, shares, and protects your personal information when you visit our website www.hashtagkalakar.com, register for our competitions, interact with our social media pages, or otherwise engage with our services.

By accessing or using our website and services, you consent to the collection and use of your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

If you do not agree with the terms of this Policy, please do not use our Website or participate in our competitions.

1. Purpose of this Policy

This Privacy Policy aims to:

Explain what information we collect and why.
Describe how we use, share, and protect that information.
Clarify your rights and choices regarding your data.
Ensure compliance with Indian law, including the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011, and Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.

2. Scope

This Policy applies to all visitors, participants, and users (“you”, “your”) who:

Access our website, mobile versions, or social media platforms,
Register for any Hashtag Kalakar competition or event,
Submit any creative work (writing, art, music, photography, etc.),
Or communicate with us by email, forms, or other means.

3. Information We Collect

We collect information in several ways to provide and improve our services.

A. Information You Provide Directly

When you interact with us, you may provide:

Personal Information – such as your name, age, gender, address, city, email, and phone number.
Submission Information – such as your artwork, writing, photography, or other creative work submitted for competitions or publication.
Payment Information – such as transaction details, payment confirmation, or partial card details (we do not store your full card number or CVV).
Communication Records – emails, chat messages, or social media interactions with our support team.
Consent and Preferences – your communication preferences and explicit consent for data use where applicable.

B. Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our Website, we may automatically collect:

Device Information – IP address, device type, browser name, and operating system.
Usage Data – pages visited, time spent, clicks, referral links, and session duration.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies – to enhance your browsing experience, personalize content, and analyze traffic.

C. Information from Third Parties

We may receive limited data from:

Payment gateways, social media platforms, or marketing partners.
Publicly available sources for verification and fraud prevention.

We collect only relevant data necessary for legitimate purposes and never collect more than required.

4. Use of Collected Information

We use your information to operate efficiently, deliver services, and comply with the law. Specifically, we may use it for:

A. Service Delivery

To process your competition registration and confirm participation.
To evaluate and manage your submission.
To contact you about results, publications, or event updates.
To deliver certificates, rewards, or digital products.

B. Publication and Promotion

To display, feature, and promote your submitted work on our website, magazine, exhibitions, and social media.
To include your name and country in announcements, participant lists, or press releases.
To use your work in Hashtag Kalakar’s marketing, PR, and advertising materials.

C. Communication

To respond to your queries, feedback, or complaints.
To send you updates, newsletters, or promotional emails.
(You may opt-out anytime by contacting us.)

D. Business and Legal Purposes

To improve website design, content, and user experience.
To prevent fraud, misuse, or illegal activity.
To comply with legal and tax obligations.
To enforce our Terms and Conditions and protect our rights.

We do not sell or rent personal data to anyone.

5. Cookies Policy

Our Website uses cookies to improve user experience.

A. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit our website. They help us remember your preferences and analyze performance.

B. How We Use Cookies

To maintain your login session.
To remember preferences (language, region, etc.).
To analyze website traffic using tools like Google Analytics.
To personalize recommendations and marketing.

C. Managing Cookies

You can block or delete cookies via your browser settings. However, some parts of our website may not function properly if you disable cookies.

6. Lawful Basis for Processing

We process your data only when we have a lawful reason to do so, such as:

Consent – when you register or submit your work.
Contractual Necessity – to fulfill our obligations under competition rules.
Legal Obligation – to comply with Indian or international legal requirements.
Legitimate Interests – to run, promote, and protect Hashtag Kalakar and its community.

7. Disclosure and Sharing of Information

We respect your privacy and limit data sharing strictly to legitimate needs.

We may share your information with:

A. Internal Teams

Authorized employees who need access to manage competitions, communications, or support.

B. Service Providers

IT and website maintenance partners,
Payment processors,
Marketing or email delivery services (under confidentiality agreements).

C. Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by:

A lawful court order, subpoena, or government investigation,
Law enforcement for fraud or cybercrime prevention,
Compliance with taxation or consumer protection laws.

D. Business Transfers

In case of a merger, acquisition, or restructuring, data may be transferred as part of business assets, under strict confidentiality.

We never sell participant information for advertising purposes.

8. Participant Rights and Control

Under Indian and international data protection principles, you have the right to:

Access Your Data – Request details of your personal data we hold.
Rectify Errors – Ask for correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
Withdraw Consent – Withdraw previously given consent (without affecting prior lawful processing).
Delete Data – Request deletion of your personal data, subject to legal retention requirements.
Restrict Processing – Request limited use of your data in specific cases.
Data Portability – Receive a copy of your data in a commonly used format (when technically feasible).

To exercise these rights, contact us at hashtagkalakar@gmail.com with proper identification proof.

We will respond within 30 days of receiving a valid request.

9. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to fulfill our purposes, comply with law, or maintain records.

Specifically:

Registration and submission data are retained indefinitely for archival and publication purposes.
Payment and transaction data are retained for 7 years as required under Indian law.
Communication data may be stored for 3 years for reference and dispute resolution.

When data is no longer required, it is securely deleted or anonymized.

10. Security of Information

We take data security seriously and use reasonable technical and organizational measures, including:

Encrypted data transmission via SSL,
Restricted staff access based on need-to-know,
Regular backups and system audits,
Secure payment gateways compliant with PCI-DSS standards.

While we strive to protect your data, no system is 100% secure. You acknowledge that you share information at your own risk.

11. Use of Submissions and Creative Works

When you submit a creative work (writing, art, music, etc.), you grant Hashtag Kalakar:

A non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, perpetual license to use, publish, display, reproduce, and promote your submission.
The right to feature your work in magazines, exhibitions, digital or print materials, and promotions.
Permission to mention your name, photo, and city/country alongside your submission.

Important

Once published, submissions cannot be deleted or withdrawn, as they form part of our public records and publications.

You confirm that your work is original and does not infringe any third-party rights. You agree to indemnify Hashtag Kalakar against all claims or damages arising from your content.

12. Third-Party Links

Our Website may contain links to third-party websites or services.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of such sites. We recommend reviewing their privacy policies before providing any personal data.

13. Defamation, Fraud, and Misuse

Participants agree not to:

Publish defamatory or false statements about Hashtag Kalakar without evidence,
Misuse our name or content for fraudulent purposes,
Post false information with the intent to harm our reputation.

Any such actions will result in immediate legal action and liability for damages, including loss of reputation and expenses incurred.

14. Children’s Privacy

Our services are not intended for children below 13 years without parental consent.
If you are a minor, you must participate only under the supervision and consent of a parent or guardian.

We do not knowingly collect personal data from minors. If we learn that we have done so inadvertently, we will delete it immediately.

15. International Data Transfers

While Hashtag Kalakar operates from India, our servers and service providers may be located globally.
By using our services, you consent to your information being transferred to and processed in countries outside your own, subject to adequate protection measures.

16. Legal Basis and Compliance

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of India, including:

The Information Technology Act, 2000,
The Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011,
And the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.

Any dispute arising from this Policy shall fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

17. Updates and Changes

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.
Revisions will be posted on this page with a new “Last Updated” date.

Your continued use of the Website after updates constitutes acceptance of the new Policy.

18. Disclaimer

We make no warranty that our Website will operate error-free or without interruptions.
We are not responsible for unauthorized access, hacking, or data theft beyond reasonable control.

By using our Website, you acknowledge that:

You understand the inherent risks of internet transmission.
Hashtag Kalakar shall not be liable for any indirect or consequential damages arising from data loss or misuse.

19. Grievance Officer

As per Section 5(9) of the IT Rules, 2011, Hashtag Kalakar designates the following Grievance Officer:

Name: Grievance Redressal Officer – Hashtag Kalakar
Email: grievance@hashtagkalakar.com
Address: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

You may contact the Grievance Officer for data-related complaints or to exercise your rights.

20. Contact Us

If you have any questions, requests, or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or our data handling practices, please contact us at:

📩 hashtagkalakar@gmail.com
🌐 www.hashtagkalakar.com
📍 Hashtag Kalakar, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

✅ By using our Website, submitting your work, or participating in any Hashtag Kalakar competition, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to this Privacy Policy.