Privacy Policy

1. Data Controller

The data controller responsible for your personal data is:

Utkarsh Research Network
B-174, Dream Villa, Pada Sahi, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751023
Email: info@utkarshresearchnetwork.in • Phone: +91-8637221386
MSME/Udyam Registered • Startup India (DPIIT) Recognized • ISO 9001:2015 Certified

2. Information We Collect

2.1. Information You Provide Directly:

• Contact information: Name, email address, phone number, institutional affiliation, designation
• Service-related data: Research topic, methodology details, data files, manuscripts, and project communications
• Training registrations: Participant details, dietary preferences (for offline events), accessibility requirements
• Payment information: Billing name and address (payment card details are processed exclusively by Razorpay and are never stored on our servers)

2.2. Information Collected Automatically:

• Device & browser data: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device identifiers
• Usage data: Pages visited, time spent, referral source, click patterns (collected via anonymized analytics)
• Cookies & similar technologies: Session cookies for website functionality and analytics cookies for service improvement

2.3. Information We Do NOT Collect:

• Credit/debit card numbers, CVV, or banking PINs (handled exclusively by Razorpay)
• Biometric data, caste, religion, or political affiliation
• Health data beyond what is voluntarily provided as part of a research project

3. Legal Basis & Purpose of Processing

We process your personal data based on the following grounds:

Purpose	Legal Basis
Processing service bookings and delivering project outputs	Performance of contract
Processing payments and issuing invoices/receipts	Performance of contract; Legal obligation
Communicating project updates, milestones, and deliverables	Performance of contract
Sending relevant service updates, workshop announcements, and newsletters	Consent (opt-in)
Improving website functionality and service quality	Legitimate interest
Complying with legal, tax, and regulatory obligations	Legal obligation
Responding to inquiries and providing customer support	Legitimate interest

4. Data Sharing & Third Parties

We do NOT sell, rent, trade, or commercially share your personal information with any third party. We may share limited information with:

• Razorpay (Payment Processor): Name, email, phone, and transaction amount — processed under Razorpay's Privacy Policy (PCI-DSS Level 1 compliant)
• Trusted service partners: Statisticians, editors, or domain experts who assist in project delivery — bound by written confidentiality agreements and NDAs
• Analytics providers: Anonymized, non-personally-identifiable usage data for website improvement
• Legal authorities: Only when required by law, court order, or government regulation

5. Data Security Measures

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data:

• Encryption: All data transmitted via our website is encrypted using 256-bit SSL/TLS (HTTPS)
• Access controls: Client data is accessible only to authorized project team members on a need-to-know basis
• Secure storage: Data is stored on servers with firewall protection, regular backups, and intrusion detection systems
• Employee training: All team members are trained in data handling, confidentiality, and security best practices
• Incident response: We maintain a data breach response plan and will notify affected clients within 72 hours of any confirmed breach

While we employ robust security measures, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but are committed to protecting your data to the best of our ability.

6. Data Retention

Data Type	Retention Period
Contact/inquiry form submissions	24 months from submission, or until deletion request
Project data (manuscripts, datasets, reports)	24 months after project completion, then securely deleted
Payment transaction records	8 years (as required by Indian tax law)
Training/workshop registration data	36 months after the event
Membership records	Duration of membership + 12 months
Website analytics (anonymized)	26 months (rolling)

You may request earlier deletion of your data at any time (except where retention is legally required).

7. Your Rights

Under applicable Indian data protection regulations, you have the following rights:

• Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Right to Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Right to Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data (subject to legal retention requirements)
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for marketing communications at any time by clicking "Unsubscribe" or emailing us
• Right to Data Portability: Request your data in a structured, machine-readable format
• Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interest
• Right to Grievance Redressal: File a complaint with the designated Grievance Officer (see Section 11 below)

To exercise any of these rights, email info@utkarshresearchnetwork.in with subject line "Data Rights Request". We will respond within 30 days.

8. Cookies & Tracking

Essential cookies: Required for website functionality (session management, security). These cannot be disabled.

Analytics cookies: Used to understand website usage patterns and improve our services. These are anonymized and can be controlled through your browser settings.

Third-party cookies: We do not use third-party advertising cookies. Razorpay may use cookies during the payment process as per their own policy.

You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences. Disabling essential cookies may impact website functionality.

9. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to external websites (e.g., Google Scholar, PubMed, journal publishers, Razorpay). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third-party sites and encourage you to review their individual privacy policies.

10. Children's Privacy

Our services and website are not directed at individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected data from a minor, we will delete it promptly.

11. Grievance Officer

In accordance with the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the rules made thereunder, the designated Grievance Officer for data-related concerns is:

Name: Dr. Paramjot Panda (Founder)
Email: info@utkarshresearchnetwork.in
Phone: +91-8637221386
Address: B-174, Dream Villa, Pada Sahi, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751023
Response time: Within 30 days of receiving the complaint

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or service offerings. The "Last Reviewed" date at the top indicates the latest revision. Significant changes will be communicated to active clients via email. Continued use of our website and services after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.