Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

We collect information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

• Subscribe to our newsletter: Email address, name (optional)
• Contact us: Name, email address, subject, and message content
• Submit content or feedback: Any information you choose to share
• Participate in surveys or polls: Responses and demographic information (if provided)

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain information about your device and browsing behavior:

• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device type, screen resolution
• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, referring website
• Location Data: General geographic location (country/city level) based on IP address
• Cookies and Similar Technologies: See our Cookie Policy for details

1.3 Analytics Information

We use the following analytics services to understand how visitors use our website:

• Cloudflare Web Analytics: Privacy-focused analytics that doesn't use cookies or track individual users
• Google Analytics (optional): Aggregated usage statistics with IP anonymization enabled

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

2.1 To Provide and Improve Our Services

• Deliver content and features you request
• Respond to your inquiries and support requests
• Analyze usage patterns to improve website performance and user experience
• Develop new features and content based on user interests

2.2 To Communicate With You

• Send newsletter updates (only if you've subscribed)
• Respond to your contact form submissions
• Send important notices about changes to our policies or services

2.3 For Analytics and Research

• Understand visitor demographics and interests
• Measure the effectiveness of our content
• Conduct research to preserve and promote Mithila culture

2.4 For Legal and Security Purposes

• Comply with legal obligations
• Protect against fraud, abuse, and security threats
• Enforce our Terms of Service

3. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services that may collect information:

3.1 Cloudflare

Our website is hosted on Cloudflare Pages. Cloudflare may collect technical information for security and performance purposes. See Cloudflare's Privacy Policy.

3.2 Google Services

• Google Analytics: Website usage analytics. See Google's Privacy Policy.
• Google AdSense: Advertising service that may use cookies for personalized ads. You can opt out via Google Ads Settings.

3.3 Email Service Provider

Newsletter subscriptions are managed through our email service provider, which stores your email address securely and allows you to unsubscribe at any time.

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience. For detailed information about the cookies we use and how to control them, please see our Cookie Policy.

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share information only in the following circumstances:

5.1 With Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website, conducting analytics, or providing services to you. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information.

5.2 For Legal Reasons

We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or government request, or to protect our rights, property, or safety.

5.3 With Your Consent

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

6. Your Rights and Choices

6.1 Access and Correction

You have the right to access and update your personal information. Contact us at the email below to request access or corrections.

6.2 Deletion

You can request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal retention requirements. Note that some information may be retained in backups for a limited period.

6.3 Newsletter Unsubscribe

You can unsubscribe from our newsletter at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any email or contacting us directly.

6.4 Cookie Control

You can control cookies through your browser settings. See our Cookie Policy for details.

6.5 Do Not Track

Our website respects Do Not Track (DNT) signals. When DNT is enabled, we limit data collection to essential functions only.

7. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Secure HTTPS encryption for all data transmission
• Regular security audits and updates
• Access controls and authentication
• Secure data storage with reputable providers

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

8. Children's Privacy

Our website is intended for general audiences and does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 years of age. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us immediately, and we will delete it.

9. International Users

Our website is operated from India and hosted on Cloudflare's global network. If you access our website from outside India, your information may be transferred to and processed in India or other countries where our service providers operate.

By using our website, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries that may have different data protection laws than your country of residence.

10. Compliance with Laws

10.1 GDPR (European Users)

If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

• Right to access your personal data
• Right to rectification of inaccurate data
• Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
• Right to restrict processing
• Right to data portability
• Right to object to processing
• Right to withdraw consent

Our legal basis for processing your data includes: consent, contractual necessity, legal obligations, and legitimate interests.

10.2 India IT Act 2000

We comply with the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011.

10.3 CCPA (California Users)

California residents have specific rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know what personal information is collected, the right to delete personal information, and the right to opt-out of the sale of personal information. We do not sell personal information.

11. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law. Specifically:

• Newsletter subscriptions: Until you unsubscribe
• Contact form submissions: Up to 2 years for support purposes
• Analytics data: Aggregated data retained indefinitely; individual data anonymized after 26 months
• Cookies: See our Cookie Policy for retention periods

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of significant changes by:

• Posting the updated policy on this page with a new "Last Updated" date
• Sending an email notification to newsletter subscribers (for material changes)
• Displaying a prominent notice on our website

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically. Your continued use of our website after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

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

For grievances or complaints, please see our Grievance Redressal Policy.