Effective Date: 01 January, 2025.
Website: www.vpathak.com
Owner: V. Pathak
1. Introduction
At vpathak.com, we are committed to respecting your privacy and protecting your personal data in accordance with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, as well as other applicable privacy laws in India and globally.
This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, process, store, and protect your personal information when you access or use our website, purchase our books, subscribe to updates, or interact with any of our digital offerings.
2. Data We Collect
We collect only the minimum personal data necessary for specific purposes, including:
a. Personal Information
- Name
- Email address
- Phone number (optional)
- Billing and shipping address (for purchases)
- Profession (optional, if submitted via forms)
b. Usage Data
- Browser type and version
- IP address
- Pages visited
- Device and operating system
- Referral source
- Time spent on pages
c. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use cookies to enhance user experience and improve website functionality. You can manage your cookie preferences via your browser settings.
3. Purpose of Data Collection
Your data is collected and processed lawfully for the following purposes:
- To fulfill book orders or digital product purchases
- To respond to your queries or contact requests
- To send newsletters or updates, only with your consent
- To personalize user experience and improve our services
- To comply with legal and regulatory obligations
We do not collect personal data for reasons beyond the stated purposes without obtaining your free, informed, specific, and unambiguous consent.
4. Lawful Basis of Processing
Our lawful basis for processing your data is derived from:
- Your Consent (as per Section 6 of the DPDP Act)
- Contractual Necessity (for orders or services you initiate)
- Legal Compliance
- Legitimate Interest (e.g., to prevent fraud, website analytics)
5. Data Storage and Security
We implement robust organizational and technical safeguards aligned with Section 8 of the DPDP Act to ensure:
- Encryption of data at rest and in transit
- Role-based access controls
- Secure hosting on reputed Indian or DPDP-compliant servers
- Regular vulnerability scans and log monitoring
We retain personal data only for the duration necessary to fulfill the stated purpose or as required by applicable law.
6. Sharing and Disclosure
We do not sell or rent your data. We may share your personal information only with:
- Service providers (e.g., payment gateways, delivery partners) under strict data processing agreements
- Legal authorities if mandated by law or judicial order
- Analytics or cloud tools (e.g., Google Analytics) with anonymized or minimal data
All such partners are obligated to maintain data confidentiality and are assessed for compliance.
7. Data Principal Rights
As a Data Principal under the DPDP Act, you have the right to:
- Access your personal data
- Correct inaccuracies in your data
- Withdraw consent at any time
- Request erasure of data no longer necessary
- Nominate a person to exercise rights in case of incapacity (as per Section 14)
To exercise any of these rights, write to us at: contact@vpathak.com
8. Children’s Data
We do not knowingly collect personal data from children below the age of 18. If we learn that we have inadvertently done so, we will delete such data promptly.
9. International Transfers
Wherever applicable, personal data may be processed or stored outside India, in jurisdictions that provide adequate data protection under the rules notified by the Central Government, or with your explicit consent.
10. Grievance Redressal
For any concerns or grievances related to data processing or privacy, please contact our designated Grievance Officer:
Grievance Officer Name: Ratnesh Kumar
Email: grievance@vpathak.com
Response Time: Within 7 working days (as per Rule 13 of the 2025 Draft Rules)
Escalation: If unsatisfied, you may approach the Data Protection Board of India at www.dpb.gov.in
11. Policy Updates
This policy may be updated periodically in accordance with changes to legal, regulatory, or operational requirements. Users will be notified via email or website announcement prior to major changes.
12. Contact
For any privacy-related questions, please write to: contact@vpathak.com