Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

Depending on how you interact with SDC India, we may collect the following categories of information.

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

When you register for an event, workshop, hackathon, community program, or other activity, we may collect information such as:

• Full name
• Email address
• Phone number
• City/location
• College or educational institution
• Course, degree, or field of study
• Graduation year
• Professional information
• Skills and areas of interest
• GitHub, LinkedIn, portfolio, or other professional/social links
• Team information
• Event participation details
• Information provided through registration forms
• Any other information you voluntarily provide

We only request information that is reasonably relevant to the relevant activity or purpose.

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you access our Website, certain technical information may be collected automatically, which may include:

• IP address
• Browser type
• Device type
• Operating system
• Website pages visited
• Date and time of access
• Referring website
• General usage and interaction information
• Technical logs and diagnostic information

This information may be collected through standard web technologies, analytics tools, cookies, or similar technologies.

2. How We Use Your Information

We may use personal information for purposes including:

• Processing event and program registrations.
• Managing participation in SDC India activities.
• Communicating event schedules, updates, instructions, and announcements.
• Providing certificates, participation records, or other event-related materials.
• Managing hackathons, workshops, competitions, meetups, and community activities.
• Contacting participants regarding relevant SDC India activities.
• Improving our Website, programs, events, and community experience.
• Understanding Website usage and engagement.
• Preventing fraud, abuse, unauthorized activity, or security incidents.
• Maintaining records necessary for operational and administrative purposes.
• Complying with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
• Sending relevant communications where permitted by applicable law.

We will not use your personal information for purposes materially inconsistent with the purpose for which it was collected without an appropriate legal basis or, where required, your consent.

3. Event & Community Communications

When you register for an SDC India event or program, we may contact you using the information you provide for purposes related to that event or program.

These communications may include:

• Registration confirmations
• Event reminders
• Schedule changes
• Venue information
• Participation instructions
• Hackathon or competition updates
• Certificate information
• Community announcements

Where legally required, we will provide appropriate options to opt out of promotional communications.

Please note that opting out of promotional communications may not prevent us from sending essential transactional or event-related communications.

4. Photos, Videos & Event Media

SDC India and its authorized representatives may photograph, record, or otherwise document events and community activities.

Such photographs, videos, recordings, or other media may be used for legitimate purposes including:

• Event documentation
• Community updates
• Website content
• Social media
• Promotional communications
• Marketing
• Educational communications
• Reports and presentations
• Future event promotion

Where required by applicable law, appropriate notice or consent mechanisms may be provided.

If you have a concern regarding identifiable photographs or recordings involving you, you may contact us using the details provided in this Privacy Policy.

5. Cookies & Similar Technologies

Our Website may use cookies and similar technologies to improve functionality, security, performance, and user experience.

Cookies may help us:

• Remember preferences.
• Understand Website usage.
• Measure Website performance.
• Analyze traffic.
• Improve content and functionality.
• Support certain Website features.

Third-party services integrated with the Website may also use cookies or similar technologies according to their own policies.

You may be able to control or disable cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of parts of the Website.

6. Analytics

We may use third-party analytics services to understand how visitors interact with our Website.

These services may collect information such as:

• Pages visited
• Approximate geographic information
• Device and browser information
• Traffic sources
• Session information
• Website interactions

Analytics information is generally used in aggregated or otherwise analyzed form to understand Website performance and improve our services.

Third-party analytics providers may process information according to their own privacy policies.

7. Third-Party Services

SDC India may use third-party platforms and service providers for functions such as:

• Event registration
• Ticketing
• Payment processing
• Email communications
• Forms
• Analytics
• Cloud hosting
• Website infrastructure
• Video conferencing
• Social media
• Community management
• Certificates and event administration

Where these services process personal information, they may do so according to their own privacy policies and terms.

We encourage users to review the privacy policies of third-party services before providing information directly to those platforms.

8. Sharing of Information

We do not sell or rent your personal information as a business practice.

We may share information where reasonably necessary with:

• Service providers supporting our operations.
• Event partners and organizers where necessary to facilitate an event.
• Mentors, judges, speakers, volunteers, or organizers where relevant to event administration.
• Payment processors or ticketing providers.
• Technology and hosting providers.
• Professional advisers where reasonably necessary.
• Government authorities, regulators, courts, or law-enforcement agencies where legally required.
• Other parties where you have provided appropriate permission or where disclosure is otherwise permitted by applicable law.

We seek to limit information shared with third parties to what is reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose.

9. Payment Information

Where paid registrations, tickets, or services are offered, payments may be processed through third-party payment providers.

SDC India generally does not directly store complete payment-card information such as full debit or credit card numbers unless specifically required and lawfully permitted.

Payment information may be processed by the relevant payment provider in accordance with its own security practices and privacy policy.

10. Data Security

We take reasonable technical and organizational measures designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, misuse, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.

However, no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Accordingly, while we take reasonable precautions, we cannot guarantee absolute security of information transmitted to or stored by us.

11. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, including:

• Providing requested services or participation.
• Maintaining event and community records.
• Meeting operational requirements.
• Resolving disputes.
• Enforcing agreements.
• Complying with legal, tax, accounting, or regulatory obligations.

Retention periods may vary depending on the nature and purpose of the information.

When information is no longer reasonably required, we may delete, anonymize, or securely dispose of it, subject to applicable legal and operational requirements.

12. Your Rights

Subject to applicable law, you may have rights relating to your personal information, which may include the right to:

• Request access to personal information we hold about you.
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Request deletion of information where legally applicable.
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.
• Request information about how your personal information is processed.
• Raise concerns regarding our handling of your personal information.

To exercise an applicable privacy right, please contact us using the details provided below.

We may need to verify your identity before processing certain requests.

13. Children's Privacy

Our Website and activities may be accessible to students and young participants.

We do not knowingly seek to collect personal information from children in circumstances where parental or guardian consent is legally required without obtaining the appropriate consent or following applicable legal requirements.

If you believe that a child has provided personal information to us without the required consent, please contact us so that we can review the matter and take appropriate action.

14. International Data Transfers

Some third-party technology providers or service providers used by us may process or store information outside India.

Where personal information is transferred or processed across jurisdictions, we seek to use reasonable safeguards and comply with applicable data protection requirements.

15. Links to Other Websites

Our Website may contain links to third-party websites, platforms, social media profiles, registration pages, or other services.

This Privacy Policy applies only to information collected by or on behalf of SDC India through our Website and applicable SDC India activities.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices, security, content, or policies of third-party websites.

We recommend reviewing the privacy policy of any third-party website before submitting personal information.

16. User-Submitted Information

You are responsible for ensuring that information you provide to SDC India is accurate and that you have the necessary authority or permission to provide information relating to another person.

You should avoid submitting unnecessary sensitive personal information through forms, emails, comments, or other Website features unless specifically requested for a legitimate purpose.

17. Data Breaches & Security Incidents

If we become aware of a security incident involving personal information, we will assess the incident and take reasonable steps required under applicable law.

Where notification is legally required, we will provide appropriate notification through legally permissible means.

18. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in:

• Our Website
• Events and programs
• Technology
• Business operations
• Legal or regulatory requirements
• Privacy practices

The updated version will be published on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date.

Your continued use of the Website following an update may constitute acceptance of the updated policy to the extent permitted by applicable law.

19. Governing Law

This Privacy Policy shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of India.

Subject to applicable law, courts having jurisdiction in Hyderabad, Telangana, India shall have jurisdiction over matters arising from or relating to this Privacy Policy.

20. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, requests, or complaints regarding this Privacy Policy or the handling of your personal information, please contact us: