Privacy Policy

1. Overview

CollegeGuidance.co.in ("we", "our", or "us") operates the website collegeguidance.co.in. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website and use our services.

By using our website, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this policy. If you disagree with any part of this policy, please discontinue use of our website.

This policy complies with the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008, and applicable rules thereunder as they apply in India.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information in the following ways:

Information You Provide Directly:

• Name, email address, and phone number when you submit our contact form or request counselling
• Academic details such as KCET rank or class XII percentage, if provided voluntarily for guidance purposes
• Messages and queries you send us
• Survey responses or feedback you submit

Information Collected Automatically:

• IP address and approximate geographic location
• Browser type and version, operating system
• Pages visited, time spent on pages, and navigation paths
• Referring website or search query that brought you to us
• Device type (mobile, tablet, desktop)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Respond to your enquiries and provide college guidance and counselling services
• Send you information relevant to your college search (only if you opt in)
• Improve our website content, structure, and user experience
• Analyse aggregate usage trends to understand which college information is most helpful
• Comply with legal obligations
• Detect and prevent fraud or misuse of our platform

We will never use your personal information to make automated decisions that significantly affect you without human review.

4. Sharing of Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third party.

We may share information in the following limited circumstances:

• Service providers: We use third-party tools (such as Google Analytics and email services) that process data on our behalf under strict data processing agreements.
• Legal requirements: If required by law, court order, or government authority, we may disclose information as necessary.
• Business transfers: In the event of a merger or acquisition, user data may be transferred as part of business assets, subject to the same privacy commitments.
• With your consent: We will only share your information with colleges or third parties if you explicitly ask us to do so.

5. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience on our website. These include:

• Essential cookies: Required for the website to function. Cannot be disabled.
• Analytics cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our site (Google Analytics). These are anonymised.
• Preference cookies: Remember your settings and preferences for future visits.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect some website functionality. We do not use advertising cookies or cross-site tracking cookies.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy:

• Contact form submissions: Retained for up to 2 years or until you request deletion
• Counselling records: Retained for 3 years to allow for follow-up support
• Analytics data: Retained in anonymised form for up to 26 months

After the retention period, data is securely deleted or anonymised.

7. Your Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Ask us to correct any inaccurate information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data from our systems
• Withdrawal of consent: Opt out of marketing communications at any time
• Objection: Object to specific uses of your data

To exercise any of these rights, email us at privacy@collegeguidance.co.in. We will respond within 30 days.

8. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information, including HTTPS encryption, secure servers, and restricted access controls. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

In the event of a data breach that affects your personal information, we will notify you and relevant authorities as required by law.

9. Children's Privacy

Our services are intended for individuals aged 16 and above. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make significant changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, notify registered users by email. Continued use of our website after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

• Email: Info@collegeguidance.co.in
• Phone: +91 9187227467
• Post: #15, 2nd Floor, Manjushree, 1st & 2nd Cross, Opp. RT Nagar Post Office, Bengaluru – 560032