Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect (Personal and Usage Data)

1.1. Personal Data: While using our Service, we may ask you to provide us with certain personally identifiable information ("Personal Data") used for contact and identification. This may include, but is not limited to:

Email address (e.g., for newsletters, comments, or contact forms)
First name and last name
Mobile phone number (for OTP verification and updates)
IP address (collected automatically)

1.2. Usage Data: We also collect information about how the Service is accessed and used ("Usage Data"). This includes browser type, browser version, pages visited, time spent on pages, and referring sites.

2. Tracking & Cookies Data

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track activity and improve our Service.

2.1. Cookies: These are files stored on your device that help us remember your preferences and analyze traffic.

2.2. Types of Cookies: We use Session Cookies (for operation), Preference Cookies (for settings), Security Cookies, and Advertising Cookies (for tailored ads).

2.3. Your Control: You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies. However, if you do not accept cookies, some parts of the Service may not function properly.

3. How We Use Your Data

SMTV India uses the collected data primarily to:

Provide and Maintain: Ensure the functionality and delivery of news and premium subscriptions.
Improve Service: Analyze usage to enhance website performance and content.
Communication: Notify you about changes to our Service, billing updates, and respond to customer care requests.
Marketing: Send you newsletters, offers, and general information about our content, unless you opt out.
Security: Detect, prevent, and address technical or security issues.

4. Disclosure and Sharing of Data

We may disclose your Personal Data in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to:

Legal Compliance: Comply with a legal obligation, court order, or governmental request (as required by Indian law).
Protect Rights: Protect and defend the rights or property of SMTV India.
Safety: Protect the personal safety of users of the Service or the public.
Service Providers: Share data with third-party partners (e.g., payment gateways like Razorpay, analytics providers, advertisers) who assist us in operating the Service.

5. Data Security and Retention

5.1. Security Measures: We strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your Personal Data. However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure.

5.2. Data Retention: We will retain your Personal Data only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy, or to the extent necessary to comply with our legal obligations.

6. Account Deletion and Data Removal

6.1. Your Right to Delete: You have the full right to permanently delete your SMTV account and remove your personal data from our active databases at any time.

6.2. How to Delete: You can initiate the deletion process directly from your Member Dashboard under the "Support" or "Profile Settings" tab by clicking the "Delete Account" button.

6.3. Active Subscriptions: Please note that if you have an active, ongoing premium subscription, you cannot delete your account until the subscription cycle expires or is explicitly cancelled.

6.4. Data Erasure Limits: Upon successful account deletion, your profile, saved articles, and login credentials will be permanently erased. However, we may retain specific transactional data (like billing invoices and payment history) for a mandatory period strictly to comply with Indian tax and accounting laws.

7. Your Data Rights (As per Indian Data Protection Principles)

You have the right to access and control your personal data held by SMTV India, subject to applicable laws:

Right to Access: You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
Right to Correction: You have the right to request that we correct any information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.
Right to Erasure/Withdrawal of Consent: You have the right to request the deletion of your personal data, or withdraw consent for its processing, subject to legal and contractual requirements.
Procedure: To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided in Section 12. We may require specific information from you to confirm your identity.

8. Data Transfer Across Borders

Your information, including Personal Data, may be transferred to — and maintained on — computers located outside of your state, province, country, or other governmental jurisdiction where the data protection laws may differ from those of India.

8.1. Consent: By using our Service, you consent to the transfer of your information to, and storage of your information in, such locations as necessary for service provision (e.g., hosting, cloud analytics).

8.2. Protection: We will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable Indian laws.

9. Third-Party Links and Advertising

9.1. External Sites: Our Service may contain links to other sites that are not operated by us. We advise you to review the Privacy Policy of every third-party site you visit, as we have no control over their practices.

9.2. Third-Party Advertisers: We use third-party advertising companies to serve ads to free users. These companies may use information (not including your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you.

10. Children's Privacy

Our Service is not directed to anyone under the age of 18 ("Children"). We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from anyone under 18. If you are a parent or guardian and you believe your child has provided us with Personal Data, please contact us immediately.

11. Appointment of Data Protection Officer (DPO)

11.1. Data Fiduciary Responsibility: SMTV India acts as a Data Fiduciary. We are committed to adhering to the principles of the DPDP Act, 2023.

11.2. DPO/Representative: Where required by law, we will appoint a Data Protection Officer or an authorized representative to oversee compliance with this policy and data protection legislation.

11.3. DPO Contact: For inquiries regarding data protection, please use the contact details provided in Section 12.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically. Changes are effective when they are posted.

13. Contact Information

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, your data, or wish to exercise your data rights, please contact us:

Email: info@smtv.in Address: 11, Singaji Nagar, Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh 450001, India Note: For content-related legal complaints, please refer to the designated Grievance Officer details in our Terms & Conditions.

Legal Note: This document is a legally binding agreement. Consult with an attorney for final review and adaptation to applicable laws, including the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (India).