Privacy Policy

Effective date: 30 September 2025
Who we are: MAHA Guide (“we,” “us,” “our”) is an India-based technology publication.

We wrote this policy to be clear, human-readable, and protective of your rights. If anything is unclear, email contact@mahaguide.in or call our 24/7 hotline +1 (917) 477-7804.

1) What this policy covers

This policy explains what personal data we collect when you use mahaguide.in (the “Site”), why we collect it, how we use and share it, how long we keep it, and the choices and rights you have. It applies to the Site, our newsletters, and our official forms, surveys, or contests.

2) The data we collect

a) Data you provide

  • Contact details (e.g., name, email) when you subscribe to newsletters, request media info, submit tips, or contact us.
  • Content you submit (comments, tips, pitches, feedback, attachments).
  • Preference data (topics of interest, communication preferences).
  • Commercial/transactional data (if we sell reports, ads, or sponsorships—e.g., billing name, business details; payments are processed by secure third-party processors and we do not store full card numbers).

b) Data collected automatically

  • Device & usage data: IP address, device identifiers, browser type, operating system, referral URLs, pages viewed, links clicked, date/time, and approximate location inferred from IP.
  • Cookies & similar technologies: small files that remember your settings, sign-in state, session security, analytics, and (if enabled) ad measurement and personalization. See “Cookies” below.

c) Data from third parties

  • Analytics/measurement partners (aggregated traffic and engagement metrics).
  • Advertising partners (ad delivery, frequency capping, performance).
  • Social networks (if you interact with embedded posts or share buttons, the platform may collect data under its own policy).

We do not knowingly collect sensitive personal data (e.g., health, biometric, precise geolocation) and we do not want it in tips or comments. Please remove such details before submitting.

3) Why we use your data (legal bases)

  • Provide the Service: run the Site, deliver pages, secure accounts, and send requested newsletters.
  • Improve & debug: understand what readers find useful, fix bugs, and enhance performance.
  • Communicate: respond to your emails, tips, pitches, and support requests.
  • Safety & compliance: detect abuse (spam, fraud), enforce our terms, and meet legal obligations.
  • Advertising & sponsorships (optional): measure reach, cap frequency, and (where allowed) personalize ads.
  • Legitimate interests / consent: We rely on legitimate interests for core operations and security, and obtain consent where required (e.g., certain cookies, newsletters in some jurisdictions).

4) Cookies and similar technologies

We use:

  • Strictly necessary cookies for security, load balancing, and basic functionality.
  • Analytics cookies to understand traffic and engagement (e.g., page views, reading time).
  • Advertising cookies for ad delivery, measurement, and—if you enable it—personalization.

Your choices: You can manage cookies through your browser settings and, where presented, our cookie banner. Disabling non-essential cookies may limit features but the site will still function. Some browsers support Global Privacy Control (GPC); we honor it where legally required.

5) Advertising & affiliate disclosures

We may display ads, sponsored content, or include affiliate links.

  • Measurement: We track ad views/clicks for reporting and fraud prevention.
  • Personalization: Only with appropriate consent where required; otherwise ads may be contextual.
  • Affiliate links: If you buy through a link, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Advertising and affiliate partners process data under their own privacy policies. They may use cookies or device identifiers to limit ad repetition, detect invalid traffic, and measure performance.

6) How we share data

We do not sell your personal information. We share data only with:

  • Service providers under contract (hosting, security, email delivery, analytics, ad serving, payments).
  • Legal & safety recipients when required by law, to protect rights, or to investigate abuse.
  • Business changes: If we reorganize, merge, or transfer assets, your data may move with the business subject to this policy.

We require recipients to protect your data and use it only for the specified purpose.

7) International transfers

Our servers, tools, or providers may be located outside your country (including the U.S. and EU). When we transfer personal data, we use lawful mechanisms (e.g., contractual safeguards) to protect it.

8) Data retention

We keep personal data only as long as needed for the purposes above:

  • Accounts/newsletters: until you unsubscribe or request deletion, plus a short backup window.
  • Tips/communications: as long as needed for editorial or legal reasons.
  • Analytics/ad logs: typically aggregated or pseudonymized after short operational periods.
    We then delete or irreversibly anonymize data.

9) Security

We use industry-standard safeguards: encryption in transit, hardened hosting, access controls, monitoring, and regular reviews. No system is perfectly secure; if we detect a risk to your data, we will act promptly and notify you and/or regulators where required.

10) Your rights & choices

Global controls (apply broadly)

  • Access & portability: request a copy of your personal data.
  • Correction: ask us to fix inaccurate data.
  • Deletion: request erasure, subject to legal/legitimate retention needs.
  • Objection/Restriction: object to or limit certain processing (e.g., analytics or ads where based on legitimate interests).
  • Consent withdrawal: where processing relies on consent (e.g., certain cookies or newsletters), you can withdraw it at any time.

Region-specific notes

  • India (DPDP Act, 2023): You may access, correct, and delete your personal data and register a grievance with our Data Protection contact (see Section 14). You may also appeal if you are not satisfied with the response.
  • EU/EEA/UK (GDPR/UK GDPR): You have rights to access, rectify, erase, restrict, object, and portability; you may lodge a complaint with your supervisory authority.
  • California (CCPA/CPRA): California residents can request disclosure/deletion and opt out of “sale” or “sharing” for cross-context behavioral advertising. We do not sell personal information in the traditional sense; where “sharing” may occur via ad tech, you can opt out via cookie controls.

To exercise any right, contact contact@mahaguide.in. We will verify your request (to protect your account) and respond within the legally required time.

11) Children’s privacy

Our Site is intended for a general audience and not for children under the age where consent is required by local law (e.g., under 13 in many regions). We do not knowingly collect data from such children. If you believe a child has provided personal data, contact us and we will delete it.

12) User-generated content & tips

Comments, tips, and pitches may be read by editors and—if published—seen by the public. Please share only what you have the right to share and avoid personal/sensitive data about yourself or others. We may contact you to verify details; sharing does not guarantee publication.

13) Third-party links and embeds

Our articles may link to other sites or include embeds (videos, posts, code gists). Those services collect data under their own policies. Review their privacy practices before using their features.

14) How to contact us (and resolve concerns)

Data Protection Contact / Grievance Officer (India DPDP):
MAHA Guide – Privacy Office
Email: contact@mahaguide.in
(Please include “Privacy Request” or “Grievance” in the subject line. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may appeal as provided under applicable law.)

15) Changes to this policy

We may update this policy to reflect changes in law or our services. When we post changes, we will update the Effective date at the top. Material changes will be highlighted or otherwise communicated. Continued use of the Site after an update means you accept the revised policy.

16) Quick summary (plain language)

  • We collect minimal data to run the Site, improve it, and (if you allow) measure/personalize ads.
  • We don’t sell your data.
  • You control cookies and can opt out of non-essential ones.
  • You can access, fix, or delete your data—just contact us.
  • Security matters; we protect your data and act quickly if something goes wrong.

Thanks for reading. We built MAHA Guide to be useful and respectful of your privacy.

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