Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 01 September 2026
Last Updated: 01 September 2026

Sri Sankara Gurukula Veda Patasala (“Trust”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy of donors, supporters, and website visitors. This Privacy Policy details how personal information is collected, processed, and maintained through vedapatasala.org.

1. Scope

This Privacy Policy applies to personal data collected through:

  • The website and online donation forms;
  • Electronic payment workflows;
  • Direct email and contact form correspondence;
  • Offline donation interactions where donor details are provided for documentation.

2. Information We Collect

We collect only the information necessary for processing donations, meeting legal mandates, and maintaining communication.

  • Information Provided by You:
    • Full Name
    • Email Address
    • Mobile / Telephone Number
    • Complete Postal / Residential Address
    • Permanent Account Number (PAN) or other identity data required under Section 80G / Form 10BE compliance
    • Donation preferences (e.g., Annadanam, Veda Vidya Poshana, Infrastructure)
    • Correspondence and communication logs
  • Payment & Transaction Details:
    • Transaction IDs, payment date/time, amount, and payment status.
    • Important: We do not store or process sensitive payment credentials (credit/debit card numbers, CVVs, net banking credentials, or UPI PINs). Online payments are handled exclusively by PCI-DSS certified payment aggregators and RBI-regulated financial entities.
  • Automatically Collected Technical Data:
    • IP addresses, browser types, device profiles, operating systems, and page visit metrics collected via standard web server logs for security, diagnostics, and fraud mitigation.

3. Purpose of Processing

We utilize personal information strictly for legitimate institutional purposes:

  • Generating and delivering official donation receipts.
  • Fulfilling statutory accounting, audit, and tax requirements (including mandatory filings with the Income Tax Department).
  • Answering donor inquiries and handling customer support.
  • Verifying and reconciling transaction failures or refund requests.
  • Preventing fraudulent transactions and unauthorized system access.
  • Sharing institutional updates, festival greetings, and newsletter communications (donors may unsubscribe at any time).

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

The Trust does not sell, rent, trade, or commercially exploit personal information. Data is disclosed only in the following necessary contexts:

  • Payment Service Providers: Authorized payment gateways and banks strictly to complete and reconcile payment processing.
  • Professional Advisors: Statutory auditors, chartered accountants, and legal advisors for statutory audit and filing requirements.
  • Government and Regulatory Authorities: When mandated under applicable legislation, statutory notices, or court orders (e.g., electronic submission of donor details under Form 10BE).

5. Data Security and Safeguards

We implement technical and organizational security controls to protect donor data:

  • Industry-standard SSL/TLS encryption for all website data transmission.
  • Role-based access controls ensuring donor data is accessible only by authorized personnel.
  • Regular administrative review of data hosting environments and database integrity.

6. Retention of Data

Personal information and financial records are retained for the duration required to accomplish the stated purposes and to satisfy statutory retention mandates under Indian tax and trust laws (typically a minimum of 7 to 8 years).

7. Cookies

Our Website may use functional and performance cookies to maintain session states and evaluate visitor traffic patterns. You may adjust your browser preferences to restrict cookies; however, some sections of the website may experience diminished functionality.

8. Your Privacy Rights

Subject to Indian laws, including the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, you may:

  • Request confirmation regarding whether we hold your personal records.
  • Request updates or corrections to inaccurate information.
  • Request removal of your contact details from optional communication lists.
  • Withdraw consent for non-essential notifications.

9. Grievance Redressal and Privacy Officer

In accordance with the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, questions or grievances regarding personal data processing may be directed to our designated Grievance Officer:

  • Attn / Designation: Managing Trustee
  • Trust Name: Sri Sankara Gurukula Veda Patasala
  • Address: 18-261, Mallikarjuna Nagar, Malkajgiri, Hyderabad – 500047, Telangana, India
  • Email: ghanapati@gmail.com

All grievances will be reviewed and acknowledged in accordance with applicable statutory timelines.