Privacy Policy for HARSHARAJ PUBLISHING

1. Introduction

HARSHARAJ PUBLISHING ("we," "our," or "us"), a publishing house based in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India, is committed to protecting your privacy and the personal data you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains how we, as a Data Fiduciary, collect, use, process, share, and protect your Personal Data when you (as a Data Principal) visit our website https://www.harsharajpublishing.com (the "Website"), submit manuscripts, purchase our books, or otherwise engage with our publishing and selling services (collectively, "Services").

This policy is intended to comply with applicable Indian laws, including the principles of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act). By accessing our Website or using our Services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and consent to the practices described herein.

2. Personal Data We Collect

We collect Personal Data that you voluntarily provide to us, data collected automatically when you use our Services, and data from third-party sources. "Personal Data" means any data about an individual who is identifiable by or in relation to such data.

2.1. Data You Provide to Us:

• Author Information: Your full name, pen name (if applicable), contact details (email address, phone number, postal address including city like Kolhapur, state like Maharashtra, and pincode), biographical details, manuscript content and related materials, literary agent information (if any), bank account details (for royalty payments), and Permanent Account Number (PAN) or other tax-related identifiers as required by Indian law.
• Customer Information: Your full name, shipping and billing addresses (including city, state, pincode), email address, phone number, details of books purchased, and payment information (which is typically processed by our third-party payment gateway partners; we do not store your full card details).
• Account and Communication Data: If you create an account, your username, password, preferences, and any correspondence you have with us (e.g., emails, queries).
• Publisher/Partner Information: If you are a publishing house, distributor, or other partner, we may collect company details (name, address, CIN, PAN, GSTIN), contact person information (name, designation, email, phone), and details related to our business engagement.

2.2. Data Collected Automatically:

• Usage Data: Information about your interaction with our Website, such as your IP address, browser type, operating system, pages visited, time spent on pages, and referring URLs.
• Cookies and Similar Technologies: We use cookies to enhance your experience, remember your preferences, and analyze website traffic. You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings.

2.3. Data from Other Sources:

• Publicly Available Information: We may collect information from publicly available sources where relevant to our Services.
• Business Partners: Information from our distribution partners or retailers regarding book sales or promotional activities, as contractually agreed.

3. Purpose and Use of Your Personal Data

We collect and use your Personal Data only for specified, clear, and legitimate purposes. These include:

• Providing Publishing Services: To review and assess manuscripts, enter into publishing agreements, edit, design, print, market, distribute, and sell books. This includes managing author relationships and royalty payments.
• Fulfilling Orders and Transactions: To process your book purchases, manage payments, arrange shipping (to locations including Kolhapur, across Maharashtra, and India-wide), and provide related customer service.
• Communication: To communicate with you regarding your submissions, contracts, orders, account information, and to respond to your queries or feedback.
• Marketing and Promotions (with consent): To send you newsletters, information about new releases, events (including those potentially in Kolhapur or Maharashtra), and promotional offers, where you have provided your explicit consent. You can withdraw your consent at any time.
• Website Improvement: To analyze usage patterns, improve the functionality and user experience of our Website, and develop new services.
• Legal and Regulatory Compliance: To comply with our legal obligations under Indian law (e.g., tax laws, contractual obligations, responding to lawful requests from government authorities).
• Security and Fraud Prevention: To protect the security of our Website, prevent fraudulent activities, and enforce our terms and policies.

4. Consent

We will obtain your clear, free, specific, informed, and unambiguous consent before collecting or processing your Personal Data, where required by law. For children or persons with disabilities, consent will be obtained from a parent or lawful guardian.

You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time for any future processing, subject to contractual or legal restrictions. Withdrawal of consent will not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal. To withdraw consent, please contact our Grievance Officer (details below).

5. Sharing and Disclosure of Personal Data

We do not sell your Personal Data. We may share your Personal Data with third parties only in the following circumstances and for the purposes described in this policy:

• Service Providers (Data Processors): We engage third-party service providers to perform various functions on our behalf, such as printing, distribution, payment processing (e.g., Razorpay, PayU), website hosting, data analytics, and marketing services. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your Personal Data and use it only for the purposes for which we disclose it to them.
• Authors and Literary Agents: We share necessary information with authors and their agents as part of the publishing process.
• Legal Authorities and Compliance: If required by Indian law, court order, or governmental agency, or to protect our rights, property, or safety, or that of our users or the public.
• Business Transfers: In connection with any merger, sale of company assets, financing, or acquisition of all or a portion of our business by another company, your Personal Data may be transferred as a business asset.

We will ensure that any third party with whom we share Personal Data is subject to reasonable data protection obligations.

6. Data Security Measures

We implement reasonable security practices and procedures, including technical, operational, managerial, and physical security controls, to protect your Personal Data from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. This includes measures such as data encryption (where appropriate), access controls, and regular security assessments.

While we strive to protect your Personal Data, no security system is impenetrable. In the event of a data breach that is likely to cause harm, we will take appropriate steps as required by applicable law, which may include notifying you and the relevant authorities.

7. Data Retention and Minimization

We retain your Personal Data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, as outlined in this Privacy Policy, or as required by applicable Indian laws (e.g., for financial record-keeping, contractual obligations, or legal claims). We practice data minimization by collecting only the Personal Data that is necessary for the specific purpose.

Upon expiry of the retention period or when the purpose is fulfilled, your Personal Data will be securely deleted or anonymized in accordance with our data retention policies.

8. Your Rights as a Data Principal

Under Indian data protection laws, you, as a Data Principal, have certain rights regarding your Personal Data. These include:

• Right to Access Information: The right to obtain confirmation as to whether your Personal Data is being processed, access to your Personal Data, and a summary of the processing.
• Right to Correction and Erasure: The right to request correction of inaccurate or misleading Personal Data, completion of incomplete Personal Data, and erasure of Personal Data that is no longer necessary for the purpose it was collected, subject to legal retention requirements.
• Right to Grievance Redressal: The right to have easily accessible means of registering grievances with our Grievance Officer.
• Right to Nominate: The right to nominate another individual to exercise your rights in case of your death or incapacity. (This right will be effective as per rules prescribed under the DPDP Act).

To exercise these rights, or if you have any questions about them, please contact our Grievance Officer (details in Section 11). We will respond to your requests in accordance with applicable law.

9. Children's Personal Data

We do not knowingly collect Personal Data from individuals under the age of 18 without verifiable parental or guardian consent. If you are under 18, please do not provide any Personal Data to us without such consent. If we learn that we have collected Personal Data from a child under 18 without appropriate consent, we will take steps to delete that information.

10. Policy Updates

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, services, or applicable laws. We will post any changes on this page with an updated "Effective Date." We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

11. Grievance Officer and Contact Information

In accordance with the Information Technology Act, 2000 and rules made thereunder, and the DPDP Act, 2023, the name and contact details of the Grievance Officer are provided below. If you have any questions, concerns, grievances regarding this Privacy Policy or the processing of your Personal Data, or wish to exercise your rights, please contact our Grievance Officer:

• Name of Grievance Officer: [Full Name of Grievance Officer]
• HARSHARAJ PUBLISHING
• Email: grievance@harsharajpublishing.com (or your designated grievance email)
• Phone: +91 88063 19390 (Ensure this line is attended for grievances)
• Address: Gat No- 85, Plot No.- 35, Nerli, Tamgaon Road, Karvir, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, 416004, India.

We will endeavor to address your concerns and grievances promptly and effectively.

12. Governing Law

This Privacy Policy and any disputes arising hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India. Any legal action or proceeding relating to your access to, or use of, the Website or our Services or this Privacy Policy shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.