Privacy Policy

General

1. Indiahandmade.com e-commerce portal (“Indiahandmade”, “Portal”, “We”, “Us” or “Our”) is owned by the Ministry of Textiles and managed by Digital India Corporation (DIC), and the mobile application thereof (are collectively referred to as the “Platforms”) through which We inter alia facilitates and provide a platform for Handloom Weavers in India and Handicraft Artisans to sell their handloom and handicraft items (“Products) online, to the users of the Platforms (“User” or “Users” or “You” or “Your”).
2. This privacy policy (“Privacy Policy”), together with the Terms of Use and all other policies notified by Us from time to time governs Your use of the Platforms. This Privacy Policy describes our policies and procedures on the collection, use, disclosure, sharing, processing, transfer, storage, retention, etc, of data provided to Us by You through the use of the Platforms.
3. We encourage You to read this Privacy Policy carefully to understand Our policies and practices regarding Your Data. By accessing or using Our Services or Our Platform, registering an account with Us, becoming a Supplier/Seller or Customer/User on Our Platform, or attempting to become a Supplier/Seller or Customer/User, You expressly agree to be bound by this Privacy Policy and You are consenting to Our collection, use, disclosure, and retention of Your Personal Data as described here. If you do not agree with the terms prescribed in this Privacy Policy, please do not use or access our Platforms.
4. This Privacy Policy does not apply to the data that You provide to, or that is collected by, any third-party, that You use in connection with the services. We encourage You to consult directly with such third parties about their privacy practices.
5. If You are accessing or using the Platform from any location outside India, You do so at your own risk and you will be solely liable for compliance with any local laws, as may be applicable.

Data Collected

When you use Our Platforms, the following Data is collected from you at various stages:

1. Personal Data: We may collect Your Personal Data to enhance your experience and provide our services. This may include, but is not limited to:
   • Identifying Data: Such as name, email address, and phone number.
   • Account Data: Such as Username and Password
   • Demographic Data: Such as location, and address
   • Identification Details: occupation/business details, city, and state of residence, and other such Business Identification Numbers, PAN, and tax identification numbers, Government ID cards/numbers, and Know-You-Customer (KYC) details to check your eligibility for certain products, services or events including but not limited to credit and payment products.
   • Financial Data: Such as bank account, credit card debit card, UPI, or other payment instrument details;
   • Your profile/brand/logo picture (if any) that will be publicly displayed as part of Your account profile.
   • Time Zone and Language preferences
   • Additional Data: Any other relevant Data voluntarily provided or automatically collected during your use of the Platforms.
2. Usage Data: We may also collect Data on how our Platform is accessed and used. Device Data we may collect and receive includes:
   • The device and software you're using, and other device characteristics, including the type of device, details about its operating system, details about its hardware and software, IP address, brand and model, signal, signal strength, available storage, browser type, plugins, pages of our Platform that you visit, the time and date of your visit, the time spent on those pages, unique device identifiers, and other diagnostic data
   • Identifiers that tell your device apart from other users' devices.
   • Data about our products' performance on your device to prevent, diagnose, troubleshoot, and fix errors and bugs. This includes how long the app was running, what model of device you were using, and other performance and diagnostic data.
   • Data from cookies and similar technologies.
   • You may optionally provide Us with data through third-party sign-in services such as sign-in through Google or other similar services. In such cases, We fetch and store whatever data is made available to Us by You through these sign-in services. 
   • Data such as shopping behaviour, preferences, call data records, device location, voice, your browsing history, and other information that you may provide to us from time to time.
   • Data You provide through our Services, such as Your reviews, photographs, comments, and other such, ordering details and history, favourite categories/Wishlist, the contact information of people You add to, or notify of, Your orders through our Services, names, and other data You provide on our Services, and other data in Your account profile as and when applicable. 
   • The search terms You have looked up and the results You selected. How long have You used our Services and which features have You used. 
   • If You make use of our Services, We may collect and store data about You to process Your requests and automatically complete forms for future transactions, including (but not limited to Your name, phone number, gender, transaction details, address, and email. This information may be shared with third parties that assist in processing and fulfilling Your requests, including PCI-compliant payment gateway processors and credit information companies.
   • You also may provide data (such as ratings, reviews, tips, photos, comments, likes, bookmarks, friends, lists, etc.) to be published or displayed (hereinafter, “posted”) on publicly accessible areas of our Services or transmitted to other users of our Services or third parties (hereinafter collectively referred to as “User Contributions”). 
   • Your User Contributions are posted on and transmitted to others at Your own risk. Please be aware that no security measures are perfect or impenetrable (see the "Security" section below). Additionally, We cannot control the actions of other users of our Services with whom You may choose to share Your User Contributions. Therefore, We cannot and do not guarantee that Your User Contributions will not be viewed by unauthorized persons. We may display this information on the Services, share it with businesses, and further distribute it to a wider audience through third-party sites and services. Users should be careful about revealing any sensitive details about Yourself in such postings
3. App Permissions

   Indiahandmade Platform requires certain permissions from users to provide its services effectively through the mobile application (“App”). These permissions are necessary for the proper functioning of the app and to enhance the user experience. By installing and using the Indiahandmade mobile application, you agree to grant the following permissions:

   • Access to device’s Audio: The App may request access to your device’s music and audio features solely to enable the voice search functionality within the App. By granting this permission, you allow us to process audio input during voice searches.
   • Camera Access: The App may require access to your device's camera to enable features such as capturing and uploading photos or videos within the app. This permission allows you to interact with visual content and participate in multimedia activities offered by the App.
   • SMS Access: The App may request access to your device's SMS functionality to facilitate features including but not limited to two-factor authentication or account verification via SMS.
   • Notifications: The App may send notifications to your device to provide important updates, alerts, or reminders related to your activities on The App Platform. By granting notification permissions, you can stay informed about relevant events, messages, or activities within The App Platform.
4. Cookie Policy

   Our Platforms use cookies to enhance user experience. By using our website, you consent to the placement of essential cookies on your device. These cookies are necessary for the website to function properly. By using the Site, you agree to the use of cookies as described in this policy.

Use of Data

1. We are committed to safeguarding your privacy and using your Data responsibly. The Data collected from you is utilized for various purposes, including but not limited to:
   • Provide Services: Data collected is used to provide our products and services, which include updating, securing, and troubleshooting, as well as providing support. It also includes sharing data, when it is required to provide the service or carry out the transactions you request, including any assistance to Sellers to handle and fulfill your orders.
   • Account Management: User Data is used for managing accounts, including user authentication, account recovery, and communication regarding account-related matters.
   • Personalization: We may analyze your data to personalize your experience on Our Platforms, tailoring content, features, and recommendations to better suit your preferences and interests.
   • Communication: We may use your contact information to communicate with you, including sending important updates, notifications, and/or promotional materials related to Our Platforms.
   • Improving Services: Your data helps us to analyze usage patterns, identify trends, and improve the functionality, performance, and quality of Our Platform. We use your data for analytics and measurement to understand how our Platforms and services are used.
   • Develop New Services: We may use the Data collected to help develop new services or products.
   • Generating Reports: The cumulative statistical data collected may also be used for generating reports, heat maps, and other statistical visualizations to draw insights about Our Platforms. 
   • Analysis: Analyzing data, tracking trends, building algorithms, creating databases for rating systems, recommendation engines, etc.
   • For non-targeting reasons such as frequency capping, compliance, information reporting, or delivery
   • Legal Compliance: We may process your data as necessary to comply with obligations under applicable law, resolve disputes, and enforce our policies.
   • Marketing and Advertising: With your consent where required by applicable law, We may use your data for marketing and advertising purposes, including delivering targeted advertisements, promotions, and offers.
   • Security: Your Personal Data is utilized to maintain the security and integrity of Our Platforms, including protecting against fraud, unauthorized access, and other illegal activities.
   • Other Purposes: We may use your Data for any other purposes as required, in addition to the purposes listed above, within the ambit of applicable law, with your consent.
2. The App permissions are essential for the proper functioning of the Indiahandmade mobile application and are utilized solely for the purposes outlined in this privacy policy. We respect your privacy and will not access or use any files, media content, or any other data on your device beyond what is necessary for the app's functionality.

Disclosures and sharing of data

1. We may disclose the Data collected from you to our trusted third-party service providers who assist us in order to facilitate the provision of certain services in relation to your purchase of Products on the Platforms, which includes but is not limited to – Sellers, the third-party payment gateway provider, Shipping and Logistic service providers for delivery of the Products purchased on the Platform. By using the Platforms and/or purchasing Products on the Platform, you consent to our disclosure of your Data with such third-party service providers, as mentioned, in manner as mentioned in this Privacy Policy. We ensure that such third-party service providers are bound by reasonable confidentiality obligations and/or use, maintain and follow generally accepted industry and security standards commensurate with the security standards set forth in this Privacy Policy with respect to such Information.
2. By continuing to use our Platform and purchase Products and services offered by us on the Platforms, you hereby consent to share and store Data with Sellers for the purposes of providing a seamless shopping experience and continued services.
3. To the extent permitted under the applicable laws, we may also disclose your Data with external organization or individuals if we have reasons to believe that the access, use, preservation or disclosure of the Data is reasonably necessary to:
   • Meet the requisitioned under any applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, judicial decree, or other enforceable governmental request/ order/ notice which in our sole discretion, is deemed necessary in order to protect our rights or the rights of other Users of the Platform; or
   • detect, prevent, or otherwise address fraud, security, or technical issues; or
   • fight fraud and credit risk.
4. A third-party payment gateway provider may be required to collect certain financial data from you including, but not restricted to, your credit/debit card number or your bank account details (“Financial Data”). All Financial Data collected from You by such third-party payment gateway providers will be used only for billing and payment processes. The Financial Data collected from you is transacted through secure digital platforms of approved payment gateways which are under encryption, thereby complying with reasonably expected technology standards. The verification of the Financial Data shall be accomplished only by you through a process of authentication in which we shall have no role to play and hence, we shall bear no liability in relation to the same. We shall neither be liable nor responsible for any actions or inactions of third-party payment gateway providers or any breach of conditions, representations and warranties given by them. We shall also not be obligated to mediate or resolve any dispute or disagreement between you and such third-party payment gateway providers.
5. You are strongly advised to exercise reasonable discretion while providing Personal or Financial Data or any other Sensitive Data while using the services.
6. The data shared and stored may include, but is not limited to, your name, contact details, purchase history, preferences, saved addresses, phone numbers, payment information, and browsing behaviour.
7. We may disclose and share non-Personal Data to any such third-party to improve their software, hardware, and services designed for use with the Platforms, we may also provide any such third-party with a subset of diagnostic data that is relevant to that third party’s software, hardware and/or services, as long as the diagnostic data is in a form that does not personally identify you.

retention of data

1. We retain Personal Data related to You as long as your Account remains Act. However, We reserve the right to hold the anonymized Personal Data for longer periods when necessary for legitimate business or legal purposes, such as for analytical purposes, compliance with law, security, fraud and abuse prevention, or record-keeping.
2. If the User breaches Platforms’ Terms of Service and as a result, the account is suspended/blocked, We reserve the right to retain the identifiers used to create the account (such as email address or phone number). This is to prevent individuals who have violated our terms from creating new accounts using the same identifiers in the future.
3. We are committed to collecting and processing only the minimum amount of Personal Data necessary to achieve the purposes for which it was collected. We will not collect excessive or irrelevant Personal Data that does not serve a legitimate purpose. Any Personal Data collected will be limited to what is necessary in relation to the purposes for which it was collected.
4. All Personal Data collected will be retained in the encrypted form on the Application Server.

consent withdrawal

1. Upon agreeing to this Privacy Policy, it will be assumed that you have provided Us a free, specific, informed, unconditional, and unambiguous consent for processing your Data for the use of Our Platforms. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. Such withdrawal shall not affect the legality of processing of the Personal Data based on the consent, before its withdrawal. Upon withdrawal of your consent, We will cease to process your Data and also ensure that the Third Parties do not process such Data.
2. Users can at any time give, manage, review, or withdraw the consent to process its Data. Upon withdrawal of such consent, all User Data collected by the Platform be either deleted or anonymized. 
3. Users may request correction, modification, or updation of Personal Data provided if it is inaccurate, irrelevant, excessive, out of date, incomplete, or misleading. You can access, correct, or modify the Personal Data you provided to us by editing your profile and adjusting your account settings.
4. You can close an account by visiting the profile settings page on our website and can request for deletion of its personal information data by raising a request with the Grievance Officer at grievance@indiahandmade.com 
5. You can withdraw your consent for the processing of Your Personal Data by writing to us at care@indiahandmade.com or calling us at a toll-free number: 18001216216. Upon withdrawal of such consent, all User Data collected by Us shall be either deleted or anonymized. However, We may archive certain data in an anonymized form to prevent, investigate, or identify possible wrongdoing in connection with the Service or to comply with legal obligations.
6. If Your Account remains inactive for a prolonged period, it shall be considered as an implied withdrawal of consent, and clauses pertaining to withdrawal of consent shall apply in relation to your account.
7. The user may choose to grant or revoke App permissions at any time through their device's settings. However, please note that certain features of the App may be limited or unavailable if you choose to restrict these permissions.

miscellaneous

1. Confidentiality:
   • We agree to keep the data collected confidential (except in conditions as stipulated in this Privacy Policy) and shall not disclose them without your consent.
   • The above provision shall not apply to disclosures of Confidential Information made under orders of any court or government authority, or disclosures made by Us in the execution of this Privacy Policy.
   • Please note that if You directly disclose personally identifiable information or personally sensitive data to any third party or through the Platform's public message board, it shall be visible to the public and can be collected by others.
2. Links to other Third-Party Services:
   • The Platforms may contain links to third-party websites and services (“Third Party Services”). We have no control over such Third-Party Services, which are provided by persons or companies other than Us. We are not responsible for any collection or disclosure of Your Data by such companies or persons thereof. 
   • We shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be incurred by You as a result of the collection and/or disclosure of Your Data directly to Third-Party Services. We shall not be liable for any disputes arising from or in connection with such transactions directly between You and the aforementioned third parties. 
   • You acknowledge and understand that linked Third Party Websites may contain terms and privacy policies that are different from ours. We are not responsible for such provisions and expressly disclaim any liability for them. We encourage you to be aware when you leave our sites or applications and to read the privacy policies of other sites that may collect your Personal Data. Your interactions with social media companies are governed by their privacy policies.
3. Queries Related to Privacy Policy: If you have any queries relating to the processing/usage of data provided by you or Our Privacy Policy or if you would like to raise any other inquiries, you may contact Us at 18001216216 or e-mail us at grievance@indiahandmade.com

Third-party API and user consent

By using the Platform, you acknowledge and consent to the following:

1. Third-Party APIs:
   • The Platform may utilize third-party APIs to generate or extract information about you.
   • These APIs may access data related to your profile, preferences, interactions, and other relevant details.
   • We ensure that these APIs adhere to industry standards and security protocols.
2. User Consent:
   • By accepting this Privacy Policy, you explicitly consent to the use of third-party APIs.
   • You understand that these APIs enhance your experience by providing personalized content, recommendations, and features.
   • Your consent extends to the terms and conditions of all third-party APIs integrated with the Platform.
   • It is your responsibility to review and understand the Terms of Service of each third- party API.
   • The Platform is not liable for any actions, data breaches, or disputes arising from third- party API usage.
   • You agree to comply with the terms set forth by these APIs.
   • Any data shared with third-party APIs will be subject to their respective privacy

privacy, safety, and security

1. This Privacy Policy outlines the commitment of Our Platforms to protect its systems, data, users, and other digital assets from cyber threats. It provides guidelines for the implementation of security measures and the responsibilities of users and administrators.
2. Users are responsible for maintaining the security of their accounts, including the use of strong passwords and the protection of login information. Users must report any suspected security breaches or misuse of information to grievance@indiahandmade.com.
3. We will implement appropriate security measures to protect its systems. This includes the use of firewalls, encryption, intrusion detection systems, and regular security audits. Your Personal Data is stored on Our Platforms’ servers in a regulated, safe environment protected from illicit access, use, or disclosure. When Personal Data is sent to other Websites, it is encrypted using the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol.
4. We are committed to protecting the privacy and integrity of user data. Data will be stored and transmitted securely, and access will be restricted to authorized individuals.
5. In the event of a security incident, We will take immediate action to mitigate the impact, investigate the cause, and prevent future occurrences. Users will be notified of incidents that affect their data or service.

grievance redressal

We are committed to safeguarding the privacy and dignity of all individuals and will undertake appropriate measures to address any privacy concerns in accordance with the privacy policy and applicable laws. If users believe that their privacy rights have been infringed, they are encouraged to report to Our "Grievance Officer" to address their grievances for expeditious review and resolution. You can find the details and contact information of the Grievance Officer in our Terms of Use.

update/modifications in the privacy policy

We may modify this Privacy Policy from time to time. If any material changes are made in it, the users will be notified through our Services, or by other means, to provide an opportunity to review the changes before they become effective. If you object to any changes, you may close their account. The continued use of our Services after we publish or send a notice about our changes to this Privacy Policy would imply that you are consenting to the updated policy as of its effective date.

indemnity

Parties hereby agree to indemnify and to hold each other harmless from and against all liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses of any kind (including reasonable legal fees and costs) relating to, arising out of, or in any way in connection with access to or use of our Services, including data and content provided in connection therewith, breach of our Terms or applicable law; or any misrepresentation.

governing law and jurisdiction

1. In the event of any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or relating to this Privacy Policy, including its formation, interpretation, performance, or breach, the dispute shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration.
2. The place and seat of arbitration shall be New Delhi and the language of the arbitration proceedings shall be English. The arbitration tribunal shall consist of a sole arbitrator mutually appointed by the Parties in accordance with the provisions of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
3. This Privacy Policy is subject to and shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India, with the competent Courts in New Delhi having exclusive jurisdiction.

severability

If any provision of this Privacy Policy is determined to be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision or part of such provision, and the remaining part of such provision and all other provisions of this Privacy Policy shall continue to be in full force and effect.