Vartha is a digital news platform owned by Study Quotient Edu Pvt Ltd, and developed by its technology division, Reviens Tech. We offer a personalized, multilingual news experience through our mobile application and web platform, designed to deliver credible, context-rich, and user-centric content for a diverse and mobile-first audience.

When you use our app or website, interact with our features, participate in polls or events, or otherwise engage with our services (collectively referred to as “Services”), we may collect information about you (“Information”), including data that may be considered “personal information” under applicable privacy laws.

Different services or components within the Vartha ecosystem may rely on distinct tools and third-party providers for functionality such as content delivery, analytics, or personalization. However, Study Quotient Edu Pvt Ltd. remains the primary data controller responsible for your information. You can reach out to us directly if you have questions about how your data is handled, or which partner services are involved.

Vartha is not intended for children under the age of 13. If you’re looking for information about how we handle data relating to minors, please refer to the Children’s Data section of this policy.

What Information Do We Collect?

Vartha, owned by Study Quotient Edu Pvt Ltd and developed by Reviens Tech, collects information to operate effectively and provide users with a secure, personalized, and user-friendly experience. Information is collected in the following ways:

  1. Information You Provide Directly:
     This includes data submitted by you during registration, interaction with features, communication with support, participation in surveys, or through other voluntary engagements.
    • Name, email address, phone number, username, password, age or date of birth
    • Communication preferences and topic selections
    • Responses to polls, feedback forms, or participation in public forums
    • Photos, videos, or other content you submit
  2. Payment and Subscription Information:
     If you choose to subscribe to premium services, we may collect payment and billing information such as credit or debit card details, payment history, subscription preferences, and applicable discount data.
  3. Device and Technical Information:
     Automatically collected when you access our platform via the app or website.
    • IP address, device identifiers, operating system, browser type
    • App usage data including session duration, crash logs, and feature usage patterns
    • Mobile network information and screen resolution
  4. Location Data:
     We may collect coarse location data (city, state, or region) based on your IP address to tailor content to your region. Precise location data may be collected only with your explicit permission for specific services.
  5. Usage and Interaction Information:
     We collect data about your interactions with the platform, such as:
    • Articles or topics viewed
    • Features used, including font adjustments, language toggle, or theme settings
    • Search history, reading time, and engagement with visual content
    • Voting, bookmarking, or sharing activity
  6. Social Media and Linked Services:
     If you choose to interact with Vartha through social media or link your account with third-party platforms, we may collect basic information from those services, such as your public profile, display name, or email address.
  7. Other Sensitive Data:
     In limited cases, and only where required or permitted by law, we may collect demographic information such as gender, language preference, or political interest when voluntarily provided. We will seek your explicit consent before collecting any sensitive or special category data.

What Are Our Sources of Information?

In addition to the information you provide directly, Vartha may receive information from various third-party sources, as detailed below:

  1. Referrals and Shared Content:
     We may receive limited personal information from users who refer others to the platform, tag them in shared content, or interact with them through collaborative features.
  2. Social Media Platforms and Login Services:
     When you log in via social media platforms or other third-party tools, we may receive data such as your name, email address, and public profile information, in accordance with the access permissions you have granted.
  3. Integrated or Linked Services:
     We may receive limited information from websites, apps, or plug-ins that are integrated with or reference Vartha’s content. Your interactions on these platforms are governed by their respective privacy policies.
  4. Publicly Available Data:
     In specific cases, we may supplement your information with publicly available sources to verify identity, enhance personalization, or understand aggregated user sentiment.
  5. Technology and Service Providers:
     We engage third-party service providers for analytics, security, infrastructure support, and performance monitoring. These providers may share de-identified or pseudonymized insights based on your interaction with our Services.
  6. Advertising and Marketing Partners:
     We may receive information from advertising platforms, publishers, and data providers to improve ad relevance, measure campaign effectiveness, or enhance outreach. This may include inferred interests, geographic data, or device-based identifiers.
  7. Strategic, Event, and Promotional Partners:
     During co-branded events, campaigns, or public initiatives (including Varthamanam debates, college activations, or workshops), our partners may share registration or engagement data with us.

We may combine this information with data collected directly from you in order to improve service delivery, provide relevant content, and maintain security and integrity across the platform. All such data handling is conducted in accordance with applicable data protection laws and the terms outlined in this Privacy Policy.

How Do We Use the Information We Collect?

Vartha™ uses the information we collect to deliver, maintain, and improve the Services we offer, which include our mobile application, web platform, and related content, communication, and personalization features. We only use your information as permitted or required by applicable law, and as outlined in this Privacy Policy or otherwise disclosed to you at the time of collection.

In certain cases, providing your personal information is optional. However, if you choose not to provide certain required data or provide incomplete information, we may not be able to offer you access to particular Services or features.

1. To Provide and Operate the Vartha™ Platform

We use your information to deliver personalized, secure, and reliable access to our platform. This includes:

  • Customizing your content feed based on preferences, behavior, and region
  • Presenting content in your selected language(s)
  • Enabling user features such as bookmarking, polling, voting, and sharing
  • Facilitating login, account management, and user authentication
  • Managing subscriptions or premium content (where applicable)

2. To Personalize and Improve Our Services

We analyze user interactions to enhance your experience and improve our platform. This includes:

  • Monitoring usage trends and content engagement
  • Generating aggregated and anonymized data for product development
  • Identifying areas for performance improvement and optimization
  • Conducting A/B testing, surveys, or feature evaluations

3. To Communicate with You

We may use your information to communicate with you, including:

  • Sending important service notifications, updates to our policies, or administrative communications
  • Providing customer support and responding to inquiries
  • Delivering news digests, newsletters, surveys, and feature announcements, where you have opted in
  • Collecting user feedback and satisfaction insights

Communications may occur via email, push notifications, SMS, or in-app messages, depending on your settings and permissions.

4. For Advertising and Marketing

Where permitted, we may use your information to:

  • Promote Vartha™, our affiliated products, or partnerships
  • Personalize the advertisements you see on our platform or third-party services
  • Measure the effectiveness of campaigns, including user engagement with content and promotions
  • Deliver special offers, contests, or invitations to participate in awareness drives or partner initiatives

You may opt out of certain marketing communications or targeted advertising based on your settings and applicable legal rights.

5. To Ensure Security and Prevent Abuse

We may use your data to:

  • Protect users and platform integrity by detecting and preventing fraudulent, unauthorized, or malicious activities
  • Monitor for potential violations of our Terms of Use or applicable laws
  • Secure user accounts and platform infrastructure

This may include authentication processes, IP and device monitoring, and review of unusual activity.

6. To Comply with Legal Obligations

We may use or disclose your information where necessary to comply with legal requirements, such as:

  • Responding to government or legal authority requests
  • Meeting financial, taxation, audit, or regulatory obligations
  • Enforcing our Terms of Use or investigating potential misconduct

7. To Support Business Operations

We process information for internal operational needs including:

  • Budgeting, forecasting, billing, and payment reconciliation
  • Internal auditing and reporting
  • Technical support and data backup

8. With Your Consent

In specific instances, we may use your information for other purposes, but only where you have provided clear and informed consent. Where required by applicable data protection laws, we will seek your permission before using your information in new ways.

9. Aggregated and Anonymized Data

We may analyze the information collected to create aggregated, non-identifiable data sets. These may be used for research, media reporting, academic collaboration, or platform improvement — provided no individual can be directly identified from such data.

10. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, or as permitted or required by law. Once no longer required, data is either securely deleted or anonymized.

Who Do We Disclose Your Information To?

We may disclose your information to third parties as necessary to operate the Vartha™ platform, provide Services to you, comply with legal obligations, or with your consent. Disclosures are made only in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable laws.

1. Service Providers

We engage trusted third-party vendors to support the delivery and operation of our Services. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Hosting, storage, and infrastructure services
  • Analytics and performance monitoring
  • User experience testing and support
  • Content moderation (e.g., chat, comments, voting tools)
  • Payment processing (for subscriptions or purchases)
  • Marketing and campaign management

These providers may access your information only to perform services on our behalf and are contractually obligated to protect it.

2. Affiliates and Group Companies

We may share your information with our parent company, Study Quotient Edu Pvt Ltd, and its affiliates (including Reviens Tech) to facilitate service delivery, improve user experience, and support operational and administrative functions, in line with this Privacy Policy.

3. Business Partners and Third Parties

Where permitted by law or with your consent, we may share information with selected partners such as:

  • Educational institutions, media organizations, and co-branded campaign sponsors
  • Social media platforms for audience engagement or content integration
  • Research institutions, media outlets, or non-profits collaborating on public interest campaigns

We may also disclose information to third parties that help us enhance or expand our services, including for analytics, advertising, and partnerships.

4. Event Sponsors and Promotional Collaborations

In case of participation in contests, branded debates (such as Varthamanam), co-sponsored events, or social media campaigns, we may share basic personal information (e.g., name, email, affiliation) with participating sponsors or partners.

Where required, your consent will be obtained prior to such disclosure.

5. Advertising and Marketing Partners

We may work with third-party advertising networks, analytics platforms, and campaign partners to deliver relevant content and marketing communications. These partners may use cookies and other technologies to collect information about your interactions, subject to applicable legal consent requirements.

You may manage these preferences through your device settings or app permissions.

6. Legal and Regulatory Authorities

We may disclose personal information when required to do so by law, or when necessary to:

  • Respond to legal processes, including court orders and subpoenas
  • Assist in the prevention or investigation of fraud or illegal activity
  • Protect our rights, the safety of our users, or the public

7. Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, asset sale, restructuring, or insolvency, your information may be transferred to a successor entity or acquirer as part of that transaction.

8. With Your Consent

We may disclose your information to third parties or services at your direction or with your consent. This includes instances where you choose to link your Vartha™ account with another platform or service.

What Do You Need to Know About Cookies and Other Identifiers?

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience, personalize content, analyze traffic, and deliver relevant advertising.

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small data files stored on your device or browser. They help websites and applications recognize your device, remember your preferences, and collect usage data.

Types of Cookies We Use:

  • Essential Cookies: Required for core site functionality (e.g., login sessions)
  • Performance Cookies: Help us monitor app performance and fix bugs
  • Functional Cookies: Enable settings like language preference or dark mode
  • Advertising Cookies: May be used by us or third parties to deliver tailored content or measure advertising performance

Third-Party Technologies:

We may use third-party analytics and advertising tools, such as:

  • Google Analytics (for usage insights)
  • Other ad-serving or marketing platforms, including social media partners

You may control or block cookies via your browser settings. Please note, disabling some cookies may affect app functionality.

How Can You Control Your Information?

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

  • Right to Know: Request information about what personal data we hold and how it is processed.
  • Right to Access and Rectification: Access your data and request correction of inaccuracies.
  • Right to Erasure (Right to be Forgotten): Request deletion of your data where permissible by law.
  • Right to Restrict Processing: Limit further use of your data under specific conditions.
  • Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured digital format or have it transferred to another service provider, where technically feasible.
  • Right to Object: Object to data processing for direct marketing or based on legitimate interests.
  • Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw any consent previously given.
  • Right to Lodge a Complaint: File a complaint with a data protection authority in your jurisdiction.

To exercise any of the above rights, please contact us at: vartha@reviens.in
 We will respond in accordance with applicable law.

Marketing Preferences:

You may opt out of receiving marketing emails by following the “unsubscribe” link in any communication. To stop SMS communications, reply with “STOP”. You can also manage push notifications in your device settings.

Third-Party Advertising:

For more information or to opt out of interest-based advertising, visit:

  • Digital Advertising Alliance
  • Network Advertising Initiative

International Transfers

As Vartha™ is a digital service based in India, your information may be processed within India or other jurisdictions where our partners or service providers operate.

If your data is transferred outside of your country, we ensure appropriate legal safeguards are in place in accordance with applicable data protection laws. This includes using Standard Contractual Clauses or equivalent mechanisms when transferring data across borders.

How Do We Secure Your Information?

We use appropriate administrative, technical, and physical security measures to protect your data from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These include encryption, access controls, and regular security assessments.

However, no data transmission or storage system is guaranteed to be 100% secure. We encourage you to use strong passwords, keep your login credentials confidential, and report any suspected security issues.

What Happens If We Change or Revise This Policy?

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in law, technology, or business practices. When we do, we will revise the “Last Updated” date and, where required, provide notice through our Services.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy regularly.

How Can You Contact Us?

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or your data rights, you may contact us:

Email: vartha@reviens.in
Address:
Study Quotient Edu Pvt Ltd.
Reviens Tech Division
Kochi, Kerala, India

We are committed to resolving complaints efficiently and transparently. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the appropriate data protection authority in your jurisdiction.